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RESEARCHES 



INTO THE 



EFFECTS OF COLD WATER 

UPON THE HEALTHY BODY, 



TO ILLUSTRATE 



ITS ACTION IN DISEASE; 



IN A SERIES OF EXPERIMENTS PERFORMED BY THE AUTHOR UPON 
HIMSELF AND OTHERS. 



HOWARD F. JOHNSON, M.D. 

PHYSICIAN TO THE "FERNS" HYDROPATHIC ESTABLISHMENT, ALDERLEY EDGE, CHESHIRE. 



AreXrjQ dXoyog Trpd^ic, icai Xoyog dwpaKTOQ 



LONDON: 

LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN & LONGMANS, PATERNOSTER ROW, 

MANCHESTER : WM. IRWIN, 53, OLDHAM STREET. 

1850. 



~RTrtfi<o- 






ADDEESS TO THE EEADEE, 



Although this treatise is dedicated to the medico-chirur- 
gical colleges of London, and although its essential nature 
is intended to be such as to render it suitable for the peru- 
sal and criticism of the medical profession, still the author 
hopes it will not on that account be shunned by the non- 
professional person. For the latter must know, that neither 
in diction, nor in sentiment will there appear any medical 
technicality, so as to unfit it for his full and easy compre- 
hension. The reader, both lay and medical, is particularly 
requested, before he commence the volume, to correct in 
ink the following errata: — Page 3, line 6 and 7 for -f 
read x . Page 6, line 26, for 39.13 read 39.14. 



DEDICATOBY EPISTLE 



TO THE LONDON COLLEGES OF PHYSICIANS, 
SURGEONS, AND APOTHECARIES, 

Gentlemen, 

Permit me with profound respect to inscribe to 
you this unpretending treatise. The title-page will inform 
you that it is written with the 'primary obj ect of inquiring 
into the physiological effects of cold water upon the healthy 
body, and with the ultimate object of illustrating its thera- 
peutic agency in disease. Long before commencing the 
manuscript, I was surprised that there had been no philo- 
sophical experiments instituted upon this subject. When- 
ever a new drug is proposed to the profession for their 
employment in disease, before it can be admitted into the 
pharmacopoeia, it undergoes a vigorous scientific examina- 
tion. It is first scrutinized physically. Its odor, its taste, 
its mechanical properties are thoroughly investigated. It 
is then submitted to chemical analysis. Its elementary 
constituents are disclosed both as to their nature and as to 
their quantity. If so far the search has proved satisfactory, 
the next stage in its examination is to trace its physiologi- 
cal action upon different animals, that are nearly allied in 
their anatomical structure to the human race. And after 
it has thereby been discovered to be possessed of no poi- 
sonously acrid properties in certain doses, it is tested ex- 



DEDICATORY EPISTLE. V. 

perimentally upon man in a state of health. Having at 
last run the gauntlet of these multifold, but most requisite 
and most excellent modes of inquiry, it is pronounced fit 
to be employed as a remedial agent, and is administered 
accordingly. And this, gentlemen, is the way in which, 
when cold water was first introduced into England as a 
therapeutic agent, it should have been immediately sub- 
mitted to the test of experiment. All such medical gen- 
tlemen as were favourably disposed to the new system, 
should have contributed their quota of scientific research, 
and in brief plain language, free from all invective and ex- 
aggeration, laid the results of their labors before their pro- 
fessional brethren. Instead of which, as far as I am 
aware, not only has no such work been written, but not a 
single one of the numerous books, that have been pub- 
lished on the subject, has been so much as dedicated to the 
profession. Nay, few, very few have been conceived in 
such a spirit, or clothed in such language, as to bear read- 
ing on the part of medical gentlemen, whose consciences 
are satisfied with the present mode of practice. And I am 
compelled to admit with extreme regret that there have 
not been wanting hydropathic treatises, which, instead of 
proving on scientific grounds the excellence of their reme- 
dial system, have in a cowardly manner sought to exalt it 
by simply abusing the established system of medicine. 
To such an extent was this, and it is still, carried, that 
many persons now wince at the very mention of a "drug." 
But this is most absurd. For these very men are continu- 
ally swallowing drugs without their knowledge. For, if 
they be constipated, do they not eat green vegetables, or 
brown bread pudding? And if they be relaxed, do they 



VI. DEDICATORY EPISTLE. 



not give the preference to rice ? now take the boiled cab- 
bage, the brown bread pudding, or the rice ; evaporate it 
to dryness ; submit it to pestle and mortar ; bottle it, and 
put it on an apothecary's shelf ; and I maintain you have 
as perfect a drug as rhubarb, jalap, or aloes. What is a 
drug ? Where is the mystery ? What is rhubarb, but so 
much powdered and bottled brown bread? I have no 
objection to rhubarb, and jalap per se, but brown bread, 
and cabbage are so infinitely more convenient, so infinitely 
more palatable, and so infinitely more within my control, 
that I prefer them to the former. 

It is true that most works on hydropathy have detailed 
cases. But why should the medical profession put faith in 
them, any more than in the cases reported in the advertise- 
ments as cured by Holloway's pills ? For it must be re- 
membered the subject had never been legitimately brought 
beneath their notice. They had no idea what the varied 
application of cold water could do. They were perfectly 
justified therefore in treating the whole system as em- 
pirical. But if those, who first adopted hydropathy, had 
preceded their cases by experimental proof of its capabili- 
ties, their cures would not have been ascribed to change of 
air, change of diet, or mere chance, but in part at least to 
the physiological power of cold water as a remedial agent. 
Believing therefore that in this matter there was laid bare 
an immense gap in hydropathic literature and hydropathic 
credit, that should be obliterated as soon as possible, I 
thought I would immediately endeavour to fill it up with 
what skill I could command. Part of this duty, gentlemen, 
I am now accomplishing in soliciting the attention of the 
medico-chirurgical colleges of London to the following 
experimental researches. 



DEDICATORY EPISTLE. Vll. 

I have said that, before a new drug is admitted into the 
category of remedial agents, its properties are examined 
physically, chemically, and 'physiologically, in reference 
both to animals, and to the human species. Now the phy- 
sical characters of water are known to every one. And 
any elementary work on chemistry will describe the results 
of its chemical analysis. It only remained therefore to 
investigate it physiologically. And even for this enquiry 
there were two large fields open, viz. the animal species, 
and the human. I should have liked extremely to have 
prosecuted my search into the effects of cold water upon 
both these classes. But hitherto it has fallen to my power 
only to accomplish my desires so far as concerns the human 
system. The results of my exertions in this matter I now 
lay at your feet with every feeling of respect, and with 
full confidence that you will pronounce judgment upon the 
work, favourably or unfavourably, according to its real 
merit. 

I am, gentlemen, 

Your most obedient servant, 

Howard F. Johnson. 



The Ferns, 

Alderley, near WUmslow, 
Cheshire. 



EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER BY THE AUTHOR IN REPLY 
TO AN EMINENT MEDICAL PRACTITIONER AND 
FRIEND, WHO BEING ALTOGETHER UNACQUAINTED 
WITH THE HYDROPATHIC SYSTEM DESIRED A 
LITTLE INSIGHT INTO ITS NATURE. 

My dear Sir, 

You are totally in the dark. Hydropathy in 
1850 is not the water-within, and water -without, that it 
used to be. Nor does it consist in the indiscriminate em- 
ployment of sheets, douches, and sitzes. It does not 
enjoin an inundation of the stomach, converting the natu- 
ral drink of man into a poison. It no more wishes that 
organ to be a water-butt, than a wine-butt. It does not 
pretend to be a panacea, nor an elixir of life. Such pre- 
tensions are not those of legitimate and orthodox hydropa- 
thy, but of the empirical and incompetent practisers of 
that system. Let me request you therefore immediately 
to disabuse your mind of these most erroneous ideas. * * 

Orthodox and rational hydropathy is not a dissent, or 
secession from the medical profession. Nor is it, as you 
seem to think, a rival to your practice. This you will 
soon perceive, when I explain to you what it is. It con- 
sists of two kinds of treatment — negative and positive. 
The first kind implies an abstinence from all those causes 
that commonly engender disease; and of course especially 
from those, that may have produced the disorder in any 
particular instance. Hydropathic patients are necessitated * 
to abstain from, firstly, the cares and confinement of busi- 
ness ; secondly, too close study ; thirdly, alcoholic fluids ; 



THE COLD-WATER-CURE AUXILIARIES. IX. 

fourthly, protracted medication, &c. The positive ordi- 
nances require, firstly, the normal amount of exercise, 
neither too much nor too little ; secondly, a strict enforce- 
ment of early hours; thirdly, a nutritious, but plain diet- 
ary; fourthly, a salubrious climate; fifthly, and lastly, the 
most important of all, the sine qua non, the essential of the 
system, the scientific administration of certain water appli- 
ances. This latter is indispensable. The other matters, 
although always insisted upon, may nevertheless be looked 
upon as so many important auxiliaries. * * * 

It is useless for me to point out to you, who are a medi- 
cal man, the great advantage of these salutary regulations. 
You are acquainted with them as thoroughly as I am. 
You daily recommend and urge and insist upon their ob- 
servance in your professional character. But the differ- 
ence between you and me is this, I enforce it, and you do 
not. Not living with your patients, you cannot do so. It 
is impossible. Who has not heard of the anecdote of the 
famous Dr. Jephson? He ordered a patient to take a 
single glass of wine daily, which the latter promised to 
obey, and did obey. But a little time afterwards, as he 
did not manifest so much improvement as was expected, 
the doctor inquired minutely into his dietary, and among 
other things wished to see his wine glass. It was brought, 
and found to be a tumbler. A most pitiful subterfuge ! 
perverting the sense, but not infringing the words of his 
compact. But had this patient been a resident in a hydro- 
pathic establishment, he could not have been guilty of this 
paltry trick, inflicting injury on himself and discredit on 
his doctor. There the physician knows exactly what each 
patient "eats, drinks, and avoids." There no wine or other 
b 



X. EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER ON THE 

alcoholic fluid is allowed to enter the house without the 
physician's express sanction. 

***** 

You have read "Sandford and Merton?" In that book 
is mentioned a celebrated physician, notorious for his won- 
derful power of curing the ailments of the rich. What 
was his practice? He put his fat, unwieldy, over-fed 
patient into a room, floored with sheet iron, and without a 
carpet, chair, or furniture of any kind. Here he is left 
supporting his ponderous weight against the wall. Now 
this shrewd doctor had a cunningly devised apparatus be- 
neath the floor of the room, by means of which he could 
elevate the temperature of the iron boards to any height 
he chose. No sooner therefore is the patient left to him- 
self, and the door locked upon him, than the floor begins 
to grow warm. He is surprised, but dreams not of the 
treachery that is soon to be revealed. Presently however 
his feet become warm, agreeably so, then hot, disagreeably 
so, and the truth flashes upon his horror-stricken nerves. 
To cool one foot, he raises it, and leans his whole substan- 
tial person upon the other. Then he shifts about, revers- 
ing the position. Anon he lifts both legs at once, and 
hangs by the arm-pits upon his crutches. Meanwhile his 
mental perturbation equals his bodily discomfort. He 
becomes angry, enraged, furious. He shouts, swears, and 
sweats. But the cruel iron gets hotter and hotter. It 
would now do a dancing-master good to witness his agility. 
He shames both harlequin and columbine. Taglioni^ 
Grisi, or Grahn never performed such leaps as he does. 
And just as he is in a phrenzy of excitement, and the per- 
spiration is streaming like a river down his sides, the doctor, 



COLD-WATEB TEEATMENT. XI. 

who has been coolly regarding him the whole time through 
an eye -hole in the wall, unlocks the door, and lets him out. 
Well, after this discipline, he is kept waiting for his dinner, 
till he is almost frantic with hunger, rage and despair. 
And when at last it does come, instead of the luxurious 
food to which he has been accustomed, instead of the ra- 
gouts, and sauces, and wines, a few dried fruits, dry bread, 
cold meat, and a jug of cold water are set upon the table. 
Why, wiiat is all this but hydropathy? This cunning 
physician was an hydropathist every inch ; in every thing 
but the name. Had he lived in these days, he would have 
been so in name also. Will you tell me he had no bath ? 
that is, none of the characteristic and essential part of the 
hydropathic system ? True, and for that very reason, al- 
though he had all the hydropathic adjuncts, he neither did 
nor could perform the multifold and diversified cures that 
we both can and do effect. t * * * 



f What follows concerning the various modes of employing the water 
itself is omitted here, as the whole of the future pages have reference to 
this point, 



HYDROPATHIC RESEARCHES. 



INTBODUCTOBY GHAPTEE. 



ON THE HARMONIOUS RELATION OF THE HEART AND LUNGS, AND 
OTHER MATTERS, 

These researches were prosecuted in the first place to 
ascertain any physiological hydropathic facts that might 
happen to be proved by them, such facts, although demon- 
strated upon the healthy body, being capable of affording 
much valuable aid in the treatment of disease. On this 
subject something has been said in the dedicatory epistle, 
and it will be continually illustrated through every one of 
the following pages. But besides this general purpose, 
there was one particular object in view, which was to gain 
correct and exact information concerning the effect of 
hydropathic processes manifested upon the functions of 
respiration and circulation. The result of the experi- 
ments prove in the latter matter, beyond a doubt, that the 
action of hydropathy is to augment the rate of speed of 
the respiration, in proportion to the pulse, beyond the 
latter. This the reader will realize for himself by and by. 
In the meanwhile the author thought it would be advanta- 
geous to premise thus much, and to explain in an intro- 
ductory chapter the beneficial influences on the system, 
arising from this effect upon the respiration, in order that 

B 



INTRODUCTORY. 



the reader, when he sees this statement verified by actual 
experimental proof, may be prepared to appreciate the 
value of such experiments. 

This work, being intended for both medical and lay read- 
ers, the former class will find much in this chapter that they 
knew before, but nevertheless the author hopes they will 
derive some interest from its perusal, since all the physio- 
logical and pathological matters mentioned have to them a 
new, namely, a hydropathic tendency. Apologizing 
therefore, to the professional reader, for some explanations, 
of which he, of course, stands in no need, but which it is 
necessary for the clear elucidation of the subject, to lay 
before the non-professional one, the author proceeds to 
enter upon his tale. 

The lungs are the organs wherein is conducted the 
aeration or purification of the blood. And the heart is- 
the organ which, with a pump-like action, conveys the 
blood thereto. This fluid enters the air-cells, of which the 
pulmonary tissue is constructed, dark, venous, impure, 
carbonized, and issues from them florid, arterial, pure and 
decarbonized. These changes are effected by the decom- 
position of atmospheric air (which takes place within the 
pulmonary air-cells), the absorption and appropriation of 
its oxygen, and the extrication of carbonic acid. 

It has been proved (see the chapter on the shallow bath) 
by experiments, conducted by the author, upon his own 
person, that the average pulse during the twenty-four 
hours, in a healthy man, numbers about 72.73 beats 
per minute, and that the average number of respirations 
that occur under the same circumstances, during the same 
period, is about 19.31. So that they stand in proportion 
to each other as 3.76 of the former to 1 of the latter. 
Now, at each inspiration, about one pint of air is imbibed. 
This therefore would be devoted to the purification of as 
much blood as would be impelled into the lungs by 3.76 
contractions of the heart. At each contraction of the 



HEALTHY EQUILIBRIUM OF THE HEART AND LUNGS. 3 

heart, or, which is the same thing, at each beat of the 
pulse, about two ounces of blood are pumped by that 
organ into the purifying apparatus, the lungs. So that 
the case now stands thus : at each inspiration, cceteris 
paribus, in healthy individuals one pint of pure air is 
absorbed into the lungs to aerate, or purify 2oz. 4*3.76 of 
vitiated blood, and 2^3.76=7.52. Therefore one pint of 
air is just sufficient for 7.52 ounces of blood. This con- 
stitutes the correct equilibrium or harmonious balance 
between the heart and lungs. 

But if at any time this equilibrium be disturbed, so 
that, for example, there should be more than 7.52 ounces 
of blood sent for aeration to the lungs per minute, or less 
than one pint of air inhaled, or if that pint contain less 
than normal (viz., 21 per cent.) of its purifying ingre- 
dient, oxygen, then, these conditions not being fulfilled, 
the blood is insufficiently decarbonized, and disease is the 
result. Instead of losing its dark colour and venous charac- 
ter, becoming of a bright red tint, and assuming the 
arterial peculiarities while permeating the tissue of the 
lungs, it passes out of those organs, of course more or less, 
in the same state as it entered them. And, inasmuch as 
dark, venous blood owes its color and character to the fact 
of its being loaded with the detritus of the old, worn-out 
tissues, and it is only arterial, scarlet blood, which has got 
rid of those impure elements, and owes its brightness and 
excellence to the presence of oxygen, that is capable of 
nourishing the structures of the body, the consequence of 
such insufficient decarbonization of the blood must be the 
insufficient nourishment of such tissues. And this being 
the case, diseases of as many kinds as there are different 
tissues in the body necessarily ensue. 

This is the way in which crowded rooms, balls, concerts, 
&c, often exercise a very injurious effect. The atmos- 
phere of the apartment becomes surcharged with the 
breath, — that is, the carbonic acid exhalation, — a por- 



4 LOSS OF THIS EQUILIBE1UM. 

tion of the refuse of worn-out tissues of a large con- 
course of people, in consequence of insufficient ventilation, 
— the exchange of pure oxygenated air from without 
for the impure carbonized or deoxidized air within. As 
the lungs continue their natural movements the inspiration 
of this vitiated air, of course, takes place. And as the 
heart goes on pulsating — pumping blood into the lungs 
for aeration — as quickly as, or even more quickly than 
under ordinary circumstances, more of this vital fluid 
is presented on the pulmonary surface for purification than 
the amount of air inhaled, in its present polluted condition, 
is capable of decarbonizing. What follows? The blood 
passes on — for it must pass on purified or non-purified — 
undecarbonized. It enters the lungs venous, it remains 
venous, and it departs venous. It now flows to the left 
side of the heart, and enters the arteries in its unchanged 
venous state, whither none but arterial blood should pene- 
trate. By means of these vessels it is distributed to all the 
tissues of the body to nourish them, when it is no longer 
capable of nourishment. Failing to nourish them, it is 
not simply inert, but becomes actually a poison. Among 
other parts this poison pervades, the brain stands promi- 
nent. Nor is it difficult to understand how this delicate 
substance, accustomed to the approach only of bright, 
arterial blood, should speedily betray the ingress of this 
polluted fluid by manifesting the symptoms of poisoning. 
Hence the fainting, swimming of the head, confusion, giddi- 
ness, and the endless train of symptoms of cerebral distur- 
bance, such constant attendants on the crowded room and 
public spectacle. 

By reference to the chapter on the shallow bath, the 
reader will discover a table of experiments, which the 
author performed upon his own person to establish the 
normal relation that exists between the functions of respi- 
ration and circulation. For convenience sake, namely, 
to assist here in the elucidation of the matters he is now 



CORRELATION OF THE HEART AND LUNGS. 5 

going to explain, he entreats permission to quote those 
experiments entire, at the same time directing the reader 
to the chapter on the shallow bath, for information on the 
mode of their performance, the origin of their institu- 
tion, &c, &c. 



Time of day. Pulse. Respiration. 

A.M. 

7. ... 64 ... 14 



!■ before rising in the morning. 



7.30 ... 61 ... 14.5 

7.45 ... 62.4... 17.8 ...before walking. 

8. ... 80-8 . . . 38.4 . . .after walking briskly. 

8.30 ... 86. ... 20. ...after breakfasting at 8. 

8.45 ... 84. ... 17. 

9.30 . . . 93. . . . 26. \ while out walking at a mo- 

10. ... 88. ... 24.5 J derate pace. 

10.45 ... 68. ... 14.5 \ ::.. . " ' . ,. ' ' "' 

^r. -.-, > sitting quietly in his study. 

1. ' ... 66. ... 15.5 \ ,. . , . « , 

I 9 q ^~ 1 5 5 f ( " mn g > at hali-past one. 

2.15 ... 72. ... 18. \ 

2.45 ... 70. ... 15.5 J" 

5. ... 88. ... 30. ...while out walking. 



6. ... 63. ... 17. 
71. ... 16.5 



} sitting quietly in his study. 
Tea was taken at 7 p.m. 

From simple calculations made from these eighteen 
experiments, it is ascertained that the average number 
of pulsations of the heart per minute, is about 72.73, 
and that the average number of times the ribs rise 
and fall, constituting an inspiration and expiration, or in 
one word, a respiration, is 19.31 per minute. And as 
72.73 arterial throbs are to 19.31 respiratory movements, 
so are 3.76 to one. This then, on very good grounds, 



6 CORRELATION OF THE HEART AND LUNGS. 

[consult the chapter on the shallow bath] is considered the 
index or standard of harmonious relation between the 
action of the heart and lungs, these being the organs of cir- 
culation and respiration. But these conclusions are drawn 
from an impartial analysis of experiments, performed 
during all periods of the day, and under the most diversi- 
fied circumstances. Some of them, for example, were 
accomplished immediately after brisk walking exercise, 
and others after sitting perfectly still. It will be found 
that in all those that were conducted during or after exer- 
cise, the respiration is very frequent in proportion to the 
rapidity of the pulse. On the other hand, those exe- 
cuted during perfect repose of the body, evince just as 
regular a comparative acceleration of the pulse above that 
of the respiratory movements. As specimens of the 
former may be enumerated the fourth, seventh, eighth and 
fifteenth experiments. If an average estimate of the com- 
parative speed of the pulse and breathing were deduced 
from these four alone, it would be found to be very different 
from the results just detailed. The average respiration 
would be 29.72 instead of 19.31, discovering a difference 
of no less than 10.41. The average pulse would be 87.45 
instead of 72.73, discovering a difference of 14.72, actually 
(that is in figures), greater than that in the case of respir- 
ation, but virtually much less. For as 1 : 3.76 :: 10.41 : 
39.]$^ So that, 3.76 being the figure representing the 
normal average number of beats of the pulse corresponding 
to one respiration, 39.14 would, in the same proportion, 
indicate the number of pulsations balancing with 10.41 
respiratory movements. But we have seen that in these 
four experiments, that were performed while the body was 
under the influence of walking exercise, although the pulse 
and respiration both manifested considerable increase in 
rapidity, that of the latter was the most marked. Whereas 
the latter experienced an additional 10.41 movements per 
minute, the former only gained 14.72 pulsations. 



CORRELATION OF THE HEART AND LUNGS. 7 

On the other hand, if an estimate were formed of the aver- 
age rapidity of the pulse and respiration, from a consideration 
of those experiments only that were accomplished while 
the body was in a perfect state of rest, as, for instance, 
from the first, second, eleventh, and twelfth, a vastly diffe- 
rent effect would be the result. The average respiration 
would number 14.87 per minute, instead of 19.31, mani- 
festing a difference of diminution of 4.44. The beats of 
the pulse would be 62.75, instead of 72.73. Here also is 
a decrease, namely, of 10 in the whole number within two- 
hundredths. So that although, in this case, there is a 
depression of both pulse and respiration, there is com- 
paratively a considerably greater depression of the latter 
than of the former, since one respiration is equal in value 
to 3.76 beats of the pulse, and 4. 44 +3.76 = 16.69. The 
respiratory movements decreasing therefore to the extent 
4.44, the pulse to correspond accurately with this diminu- 
tion would have fallen 16.69. The respiration consequently 
exhibits the largest fall. 

If the reader has carefully followed these statements and 
calculations, he will now distinctly understand, — firstly, 
that the numerical equilibrium between the pulsations of 
the heart, and the movements of respiration, is, in the nor- 
mal condition, as 3.76 of the former to one of the latter ; — - 
that this correct and healthy equipoise, however, is only 
maintained when there is a due amount of exercise taken, 
that is, when the body undergoes the salubrious change of 
rest and motion, — secondly, that exercise accelerates both 
pulse and respiration, but the latter more extensively than 
the former, — thirdly, that perfect repose of the body causes 
a diminution in the speed of both these functions, but of 
respiration in the most marked manner, — fourthly, and 
lastly, that the greater the number of respirations in a 
given time, or in proportion to the beats of the pulse, the 
more healthily are discharged the living actions, and of 
course, vice versa, the more dilatorily the office of respira- 



8 EFFECTS OF SEDENTAEY PUESUTTS. 

tion is performed, the more speedily do these functions 
yield to the encroachments of disease. 

Now it will be readily understood how deleterious an 
influence the sedentary pursuits, so indispensable in the 
present state of society, can exercise in impeding the ac- 
tion of the lungs. First, the constrained stooping position 
necessary in either reading or writing, and mechanically 
cramping the lungs ; next, the absence of all active motion, 
causing debility of the muscles of respiration among other 
parts ; then the inhalation of a warm, and, however cau- 
tious the person may be to provide against it, not perfectly 
pure atmosphere, the former, as well as the latter condition, 
being highly injurious to the very susceptible pulmonary 
membrane ; all these circumstances, and many others, upon 
which it would be irrelevant here to enlarge, conspire to 
retard the respiratory movements, and to entail upon the 
individual the necessary destructive consequences. These 
soon loudly declare themselves in many forms, — in the 
shape of cerebral symptoms, as, confusion of ideas, giddi- 
ness, impaired memory, headache, and a legion of others, 
indicative of the flow of impure blood, that is, venous, un- 
oxygenated, undecarbonized, through the delicate structure 
of the brain, producing as venomous an effect as the inha- 
lation of so much carbonic acid gas; or in the shape of dys- 
peptic symptoms, as flatulence, heartburn, pain at the pit 
of the stomach, constipation, &c. &c, generated by the 
same undecarbonized blood flowing through the textures 
of the stomach and bowels, or in the shape of uterine 
symptoms, which appear to become more frequent almost 
day by day, and hour by hour, or, lastly, in the very fatal 
shape of consumption. In the year 1838, according to the 
Registrar's Annual Report of Births, Deaths, and Marri- 
ages, out of the total deaths in England and Wales, no less 
than 27.5 per cent, were attributed to disease of the lungs, 
and out of these, consumption slew a no smaller number 
than 59,025. To what can this frightful mortality be more 



CAUSING CONSUMPTION AND OBESITY. 9 

justly ascribed, in part at least, than to the unwholesome 
sedentary habits of the present day ? In a close, ill-venti- 
lated, heated, atmosphere, debarred from the natural 
stimulus of cool, pure air, and healthful exercise, mechani- 
cally cramped in their movements by a forced and unnatu- 
ral position, is it to be wondered at that the lungs become 
a fertile soil for the scrofulous seeds of consumption to 
take root, and flourish ? 

The same unwholesome, confined pursuits, by the con- 
straint they put on the respiration, give rise to the develop- 
ment of an inordinate amount of fat. This substance, so 
unsightly to the physiologist, because so hurtful to the 
system, when existing in superfluous abundance, consists 
essentially of two elementary ingredients, carbon and hy- 
drogen, and it will easily be made manifest to the reader, 
how retardation of the respiratory process causes its super- 
abundant deposition in the tissues. The air we take into the 
lungs in respiration is composed of oxygen and nitrogen. The 
air that is evolved from the lungs consists of nitrogen, car- 
bonic acid gas, and aqueous vapor. The nitrogen comes in 
andgoes out precisely in the same condition, unchanged. It is 
united with the oxygen merely for the purpose of dilution, 
for pure unmixed oxygen is too irritating for the lining 
membrane of the pulmonary air-cells, and on that account 
is itself as poisonous to breathe as any atmosphere alto- 
gether deprived of this vital gas. Carbonic acid is a 
chemical combination, in definite proportions, of carbon 
and oxygen. Aqueous vapor, or vaporified water is also 
a definite chemical compound of oxygen, but hydrogen, 
not carbon, is its other ingredient. Oxygen, therefore, 
enters the lungs simple, uncombined (for it is not chemically 
united, but merely mechanically mixed with the nitrogen), 
and it returns, combined chemically with two other sub- 
stances, viz., carbon to form carbonic acid, and hydrogen 
to form water or aqueous vapor. 
><Now the worn out efFcete tissues of the body, having ful- 



10 THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ORIGIN, IN FACT. 

filled their object in the animal economy, escape from the 
system in a highly attenuated form, through various out- 
lets, as the skin, kidneys, lungs, &c. But they do not 
rush pele-mele through the first outlet they come to, but 
each substance, according to the nature of its composition, 
has a particular excreting organ adapted for its transfer- 
ence to without. For example, those matters that are rich 
in nitrogen have to pass through the kidneys, while those, 
in which carbon and hydrogen prevail, make their exit 
through the lungs. But it has been stated that these ele- 
ments combined in certain proportions, are the constituents 
of fat. Yes, and it is precisely in this way that obesity 
takes its origin. By diminished respiration, consequent 
upon sedentary habits, a large quantity of carbon and hy- 
drogen, which should be eliminated from the body through 
the lungs, is retained in the system. But, inasmuch as 
having performed its office, and being incapable of further 
duty, it would not only be useless, but even poisonous, 
were it to continue in the circulation ; it is happily got rid 
of in a peculiar manner, namely, it is deposited in different 
places, in the shape of fat. This then is the physiological 
origin of that very useless incumbrance, and beyond a ques- 
tion, most unnatural eye-sore, corpulence. 

But where is the lodgment of fat effected ? We see it 
on the exterior of the body, beneath the skin, more espe- 
cially about the region of the abdomen. We see it in the 
face, the arms, the legs, &c. &c. ; but we do not see it in 
the heart, the lungs, and other viscera. Let it be remem- 
bered, however, that the deposition of fat goes on in the 
region of those most important organs with the same pace 
that it invests the periphery of the body ; — the public are 
not generally aware of this vital fact, it is nevertheless 
true. Just as the cheeks begin to puff out, and the healthy 
abdomen to become converted into the unhealthy paunch, 
at the same time the thoracic viscera, the heart, the large 
vessels, the cardiac nervous ganglia, the roots of the lungs, 



1 1 CORPULENCE OF THE HEART AND LUNGS. 

&c, begin to receive their load of adipose tissue. As the 
external corpulence increases, so does the internal corpu- 
lence increase. As the^corpulence of the legs and abdo- 
men impede and clog the movements of the limbs, so does 
the corpulence within the chest impede and clog the move- 
ments of the heart, large vessels, and lungs ; in one word, 
in proportion to the increased difficulty of locomotion, is 
there increased difficulty of circulation and respiration, so 
that there is developed a complete circle of evils. Firstly, 
the respiratory process is accomplished in a dilatory, inef- 
ficient manner, which supervenes necessarily upon the con- 
finement of inactive pursuits. Secondly, the consequence 
of this evil is the non-aeration, or non-oxygenation of a 
considerable proportion of venous blood conveyed to the 
lungs to be purified, and the inevitable retention in the 
system of a large quantity of carbonaceous and hydrogenous 
matters, that should have escaped in the form of carbonic 
acid and water. Thirdly, these two elementary substances, 
to avoid deleterious effects resulting from their now poi- 
sonous character, are thrown aside as useless lumber, into 
various nooks and corners, in the shape of fat. Fourthly, 
one of these receptacles is situated in the cavity of the 
chest, about the base of the heart, roots of the lungs, and 
trunks of large blood-vessels. Fifthly, it follows that the 
growth of fat in this most vital neighbourhood, is attended 
by great detriment to the general health, affording, as it 
does, a weighty obstacle to the movements of the viscera 
of circulation and respiration. Thus, then, it will be seen 
that the beginning and the end of this chain of miseries is 
the same, namely, impeded breathing, the same, that is to 
say in kind, but not in degree, for the last is, of course, 
much greater than the first. It is on this account, viz. 
the accumulation of fat about the thoracic organs, that we 
see stout persons labor for breath on ascending a hill, or 
walking up stairs ; and that we see them stop and pant on 
slight muscular exertion. Is it to be wondered at that so 
many of such over-fat subjects die suddenly ? 



12 THE PRODUCTION OF ANIMAL HEAT. 

Both to counteract the tendency to this disease (for it is 
a disease) and to cure it when established, it will be proved 
by the following experimental researches that hydropathic 
applications, independent of all hygienic rules, as dieting^ 
exercise, &c, are, by a specific action upon the lungs an 
efficient remedy. 

When a piece of wood is ignited it evolves light and 
heat, which are the result of one simple chemical combina- 
tion, namely the union of atmospheric oxygen with the carbon 
and hydrogen of the wood. It is a mere process of oxida- 
tion. During the inflammation the wood diminishes in 
size, and aqueous vapor and carbonic acid gas are liberated. 
From precisely the same condition of things is animal heat 
generated and maintained. The tissues of the whole hu- 
man frame are constantly undergoing a chemical combina- 
tion with oxygen prior to, and indeed to enable, their re- 
moval from the body. The carbon and hydrogen present 
in those tissues enter into union with oxygen, the resulting 
compounds being water and carbonic acid. And from this 
chemical decomposition and combination animal heat is 
generated. Hence it follows that the amount of animal 
heat generated must depend upon the amount of chemical 
action occurring in the tissues, that is of course, the more 
chemical action the more warmth, and the less chemical 
action the less warmth. But the energy of this chemical 
change in the tissues is regulated entirely by the quantity 
of oxygen conveyed to them for that purpose. The oxygen 
is conducted thither by the blood having entered that 
fluid while passing through the lungs during the process of 
respiration. And of course the quantity of oxygen im- 
bibed by the blood in the lungs depends entirely upon the 
frequency of respiration. Ergo, animal heat depending 
upon chemical action in the tissues, this chemical action 
depending upon the oxygen conveyed to those tissues for 
that purpose in the blood — this oxygen depending for its 
entry into the system upon the process of respiration — it 



DEFICIENCY OF ANIMAL HEAT. 13 

is an inevitable sequitur that the more frequent the breath- 
ing the more animal heat is generated, or, in other words, 
the warmer the individual becomes. 

Inasmuch as sedentary engagements diminish the fre- 
quency of respiration as before explained, so do they give 
rise to the unpleasant train of symptoms that characterize 
the invalid whose natural sources of heat are burning low. 
Who that is engaged in such avocations as preclude 
active exercise, but is painfully acquainted with chilliness, 
shivering, cold feet and hands, tendency to chilblains, 
liability to take cold from every draught, blue nose, and 
tingling ears on going into the air, and a myriad of similar 
disagreeable symptoms ? But besides these comparatively 
trifling matters, these unfortunate individuals frequently 
suffer in a much more important manner, for they are apt 
to fall into a cachectic, miserable condition, that invites 
the entrance of disease, and quickly yields the body a prey 
to its attack : their whole system appears to become dis- 
ordered generally, without affording the power of fixing 
upon any particular organ as the seat of the mischief, thus, 
the nervous system is shattered, the muscular system is 
flabby and debilitated ; the mucous membranes are all 
wrong ; an immense amount of irritation, obstruction, or 
engorgement, declares itself in most of the internal vis- 
cera ; dyspeptic symptoms supervene, bowels consti- 
pated, tongue parched and foul, appetite capricious or gone, 
flatulence, heartburn, colicky pains ; in one word, his con- 
stitution is ruined, and his life a bugbear. But in the 
following pages it will be proved that all these horrors can 
be both prevented, and, when developed, cured by hydro- 
pathic applications, through their specific effect upon the 
respiration. 

In this country pulmonary consumption is frightfully 
prevalent : that fact is universally known, but the cause of 
the great mortality from this disease is certainly not gene- 
rally understood. Dampness of the climate, and predispo- 



14 STATISTICS OF CONSUMPTION. 

sition from hereditary taint, receive all the blame, assuredly 
without justice. In the year 1838, as has been before 
mentioned, it was shewn by the Registrar General's Re- 
port, that of all the deaths that occurred, twenty-seven and 
a half per cent, were due to disease of the respiratory 
organs ; the actual number of these latter was 90,823, of 
which 59,025 were laid at the door of consumption alone. 
This Report further states that in the same year for every 
3.8 males that died of consumption, this disease carried off 
4. 1 females. Commenting upon these facts, Mr. Farr speaks 
in the following forcible words : — 

" This higher mortality of English women by consumption may 
be ascribed partly to the in-door life they lead, and partly to the com- 
pression preventing the expansion of the chest, by costume. In both 
ways they are deprived of free draughts of vital air, and the altered 
blood deposits tuberculous matter, with a fatal and unnatural facility . 
Thirty-one thousand and ninety English women died in one year of 
the incurable malady ! Will not this impressive fact induce persons 
of rank and influence to set their country women right in the article 
of dress, and lead them to abandon a practice which disfigures the 
body, strangles the chest, produces nervous and other disorders, and 
has an unquestionable tendency to implant an incurable hectic malady 
in the frame?" 

Hence then it appears that the practice of wearing stays, 
by the compression they exercise on the lungs, thereby 
impeding the respiration, is one fertile source of consump- 
tion. Another cause for the prevalence of this fatal 
disease may be found, beyond a doubt, in the constrained 
position of those, whose pursuits compel them to sit much 
in one posture. The hot, dense, and vitiated air of saloons, 
and crowded assemblies, is also prolific in its production. 
In short anything that obstructs the process of respiration, 
is capable of giving rise to the deposit of tuberculous mat- 
ter in the lungs. And, therefore, since the hydropathic 
appliances have the effect, as proved by the ensuing experi- 
ments, of augmenting the rapidity and depth of the 
breathing process, of course they have a tendency to pre- 
vent scrofulous and other pulmonary complaints. 



CHKONTC DISEASE. 15 

It will be appropriate now to speak of the beneficial 
influence exerted by increasing the strength and frequency 
of the respiratory function in the removal of chronic 
disease. It will be in the first place readily granted, that 
all disease must be either functional or organic. By organic 
disease is meant such disease as is revealed to the senses, 
tangible, visible, as an ulcer in the stomach, valvular disease 
of the heart, congestion of the brain, &c. By functional 
disease is meant such disease as is not amenable to the 
senses of sight and touch, but whose presence we recog- 
nize nevertheless by the most unmistakable symptoms, as, 
for example, neuralgic or tic pains, nervous headache, 
irritability of the heart, &c. It is also commonly supposed 
that in the latter case there is really no physical disease at 
all — that the organ or part, whatever it may be, that is 
affected, is disturbed in the discharge of its function, that 
it goes wrongly > so to speak, or acts wrongly, without there 
being any real, bona-fide, substantial disease to account 
for it. For example, a lady suffers very much from palpita- 
tion of the heart, but there being no stethoscopic signs of 
disease in that organ, and there being none of those colla- 
teral symptoms, generally supposed to be indicative of 
organic disease of the heart, as spitting of blood, difficulty 
of breathing, dropsy of the chest, abdomen, or limbs, &c, 
&c, she is confidently assured that she has no real heart 
disease whatever, and that she will probably soon be well. 
Or a gentleman is afflicted with dyspeptic symptoms, flat- 
ulence, constipation, heart-burn, water-brash, caprice of 
appetite, foul tongue, &c, &c. A careful and minute 
examination is instituted both by the stethoscope and 
manipulation into all his viscera thoracic and abdominal. 
The heart and lungs are found intact, the liver does not 
protrude below the ribs nor above the rib that should mark 
its upper boundary, there is no tenderness over the stomach, 
bowels, or bladder, the spleen is in its right place, the kid- 
neys entire, no hypertrophy, induration or tumor is 



16 FUNCTIONAL AND ORGANIC DISEASE. 

discovered, in brief no abnormality can be detected, and 
the patient receives with gratified ears the pleasing intelli- 
gence that he has no disease, that is, no real disease about 
him, and that there is nothing to prevent his speedy 
recovery. 

This then is the distinction usually drawn between func- 
tional and organic disease. But the author has no 
hesitation whatever in saying, that he does not believe in 
the existence of such functional disease. He does not 
even believe such a thing possible as that the function of 
an organ should be ill-accomplished without the presence 
of actual organic disease. If so, why does not functional 
disease get well ? It is true that it does sometimes, but it 
is equally true that it sometimes does not. And organic 
disease also gets well sometimes. Well, but you will say, 
where is the disease ? Shew it us, and we will acknowlege 
it, but our senses take no cognizance of it. I grant that, 
replies the author. I know the disease present is inappre- 
ciable to the gross perception of the senses, but that is no 
more a reason that it should not be there, than that ani- 
malcula did not exist in water before they were discovered 
by the microscope ? Is it possible to conceive how a pen- 
dulum, once set right, should deviate from its course with- 
out a physical cause ? Is it possible to conceive how a steam 
engine, once in full play, should cease, or alter its motion, 
without a physical, mechanical cause ? In the same way 
it is equally, or more impossible, according to the author's 
conviction, to conceive how, in so elaborate and perfect a 
piece of machinery as the human system, a single organ can 
discharge its function imperfectly without there being 
something physically, mechanically wrong. From how 
many trivial faults, and inappreciable to all eyes but those 
of a watch-maker may a watch go wrong ? But we never 
hear a watch-maker talk of functional disturbance of a 
watch. It would be too ridiculous. Yet it is equally 
ridiculous to imagine that functional derangement can 



FUNCTIONAL AND ORGANIC DISEASE. 17 

occur in the animal economy without the existence of 
organic disease. It may occasionally be difficult to detail 
its whereabout, but it is always there. Take, for example, 
once more, a palpitating heart. Analyse its muscular sub- 
stance, which forms nearly its entire bulk, in every manner 
possible, physically, chemically, microscopically, and you 
will probably discover no disease. Carefully dissect its 
blood-vessels, and rigidly inspect both themselves and their 
contents. Still, probably, no fault will appear. But 
there still remains a most important subject for investiga- 
tion, the nerves of the heart. These, because they are 
the least understood of all, require the most scrupulous 
attention. And here, although parts before perhaps com- 
pletely overlooked, will the disease, the real disease, in all 
probability be located: for the heart is surrounded by an 
enormous quantity of most delicate nervous tissue, whose 
duty it is to regulate its motion, as the pendulum of a 
clock regulates the movements of its hands. What the pre- 
cise nature of the disease may be, of course must depend 
upon circumstances. A cardiac nerve may be congested 
justin the same manner as the brain may be congested. 
It may be too well supplied with blood or too ill supplied. 
In fact, any thing may be the matter with it, as anything may 
be the matter with the brain, only of course on a compara- 
tively limited scale, so limited indeed as to escape notice. 

The author has at this moment a lady under his treat- 
ment w r ho suffers from most unpleasant sensations beneath 
the left breast, but deeply seated. She has been an inva- 
lid many years with an uterine complaint. And although 
she in consequence experiences many aches, pains, and 
morbid feelings in different parts of the body, all of them 
seem eventually to terminate in some, as beforementioned, 
unpleasant sensation on the left side of the chest. "When 
she first came under his care, she had suffered so much in 
this respect that she was convinced, in contradiction to 
what all her medical advisers had told her, that she laboured 

D 



18 FUNCTIONAL AND ORGANIC DISEASE. 

under disease of the heart. The author examined the 
organ with the stethoscope, and then after a careful analy- 
sis of the symptoms, told his patient, that she and her pre- 
vious medical attendants were both right. He then explained 
to her that she had not what they called disease of the 
heart, viz., palpable, structural change, recognisable by the 
naked eye, but that the nervous ganglia and plexus every 
where investing the organ, and presiding over its function 
were certainly extensively affected, so that she was perfectly 
correct if not in word, (although even that is doubtful) at 
least in idea. 

And so of all other so-called functional diseases the 
author contends that there is no such thing, that it is a 
mis-nomer, that all functional disease is the result of 
organic disease, although this may be so concealed as to 
elude the gross evidence of the senses. 

Considering therefore that the division of diseases into 
organic and functional, to be altogether arbitrary, false, 
and absurd, and that all disease is organic, his duty is simpli- 
fied. He has merely to shew the effect of hydropathy through 
its influence upon the process of respiration in dissipating 
organic chronic disease, in other words, chronic disease 
generally. 

Chronic disease alone is mentioned because cases of acute 
disease so rarely fall beneath the notice of the hydropathic 
physician, that it is not worth while to bring it into discus- 
sion in this place. 

The author has now to propound a notion that may at 
first sight appear to the reader both novel and strange. 
He looks upon all chronic disease, of whatever class or 
denomination, and of however contrary natures, as consis- 
ting essentially of one of the, three following conditions, 
namely, the existence of too much blood, or congestion of 
the part affected, of too little blood or anuaecia of that part, 
or of the supply of blood of an impure character to that 
part. He considers that all diseases, whether of nerves, 



EXAMPLES OF DISEASES OF THE BLOOD. 19 

blood-vessels, skin, internal viscera, muscles, or bones, 
are all to be referred to one of these three conditions. 
The part diseased is over-supplied with blood, is deficient 
in that vital fluid, or receives to nourish it, blood whose 
bad qualities render it incapable of performing that office, 
or even affect it poisonously. The nature of the work 
forbids explanation upon this point, or it would be easy to 
prove the author's position in every individual malady. 
He must therefore be contented to request the lay reader 
to be satisfied with what he has already said upon the sub- 
ject. And, for the medical reader, he will merely cite a 
few examples, without explanation, from the most com- 
mon diseases. Apoplexy depends generally more or less / 
upon congestion of the brain ; syncope upon anaeucia of X 
the brain ; dyspepsia upon congestion of the liver and 3 
stomach ; constipation upon debility, that is, aneucia of J 
the muscular coat of the bowels ; Bright's disease upon . t/ 
congestion of the kidney ; nervousness upon congestion, 
sometimes, but generally upon anaeucia of the whole ner- 
vous system ; jaundice upon obstruction from congestion u 
of the liver; gout upon a poisonous superabundance of V 
uric acid in the blood ; rickets, and a whole host of other 
strumous affections upon general deficiency of blood ; 1 
scrofulous tubercle, and cancerous deposit upon a veno- '0 
mous property in the blood. In fact, the only kind of 
disease that would offer any prima facie difficulty to the 
reception of this view would be spasmodic diseases, such as 
St. Vitus' dance, epileptic and hysterical fits, asthma, hooping 
cough, and others. And here the author would enquire if 
any of his readers, medical or lay, is aware to what source 
these diseases can be traced. Hitherto their origin has 
been involved, and still is involved, in the profoundest 
mystery. Now, in his own mind, he entertains not the 
slightest doubt that some fault in their nutrition is at the 
bottom of the mischief; that some, probably very trivial, 
congestion, or lack of sufficient blood, or supply of impure 
blood at some part of the nervous system (whether brain, 



20 EFFECT OF HYDROPATHY ON CONGESTION. 

spinal cord, or single nerve, varies of course according to 
circumstances), is the real cause of the disease, at all events, 
we know that congestion of the brain, that anseucia of the 
brain, and that a poison circulating through the brain, after 
either inhalation or imbibation, will induce a fit of convul- 
sions. That we see daily. 

With perfect fairness, therefore, spasmodic diseases also 
may be referred to one of the three states before mentioned 
for their origin ; and neuralgic pain, or tic, is certainly at- 
tributable to the same causes. 

The question, therefore, now to be decided is this ; is 
hydropathy, through its influence upon the process of re- 
spiration, capable of overcoming congestion, of furnishing 
more blood in a deficiency, and of remedying a vitiated 
state of that fluid ? Let these matters be discussed seria- 
tim. To begin with congestion, what is the meaning of 
this term ? Congestion, implies the presence of an ab- 
normally large amount of blood ; its immediate cause 
is to be found in the blood-vessels of the part affected. For 
some reason or other their contractile coats are ill nou- 
rished ; they become weak in consequence, and lose their 
natural elasticity : distension follows, caused by the pres- 
sure of the blood within being now unresisted by the vas- 
cular walls ; this bulging, of course, permits the ingress of 
more blood than could before be contained in the same 
space ; besides this, the current of blood is deprived of that 
onward impetus, which was before bestowed upon it by the 
constant pressure of the elastic coats. Its course, there- 
fore, is virtually impeded, so that, in addition to there 
being more fluid admitted into the vessels, there is also a 
tendency to stagnation. And all this misery arises imme- 
diately from the fact of the vascular coats being weakened 
and losing their elasticity from a scanty supply of nourish- 
ment, that is, of nutrient blood. The only method, there- 
fore, of curing this congestion effectually and permanently, 
is to bring an abundant supply of good blood to restore 
their vigour and elasticity to the blood-vessels. 



EFFECT OF HYDROPATHY ON CONGESTION. 21 

To the superficial reasoner, or indeed to any one not 
conversant with the subject, it may, at first sight, appear 
inconsistent, when there is distinct evidence of the exist- 
ence of too much blood in any individual part, to hold out 
as a means of curing such superabundance the further ad- 
dition of blood. But even at this superficial view it can 
be no more heterodox treatment, than the adoption of a 
plan put in force nearly every day by nearly every person, 
namely, the abstraction of blood, for local congestion, in 
an invalid whose whole system is already drained of that 
fluid. Yet this practice, the application of leeches, or of 
the cupping-glass, to a sick man for a local cause, whose 
general system cannot spare a single drop, is one of which 
not a soul for an instant doubts the propriety. But, in 
point of fact, without having recourse to analogy, in refer- 
ence to the first subject, viz. the supply of additional blood 
to the body, to cure a congestion, that is, a local super- 
abundance, a full comprehension of the modus operandi is 
insured by the above-mentioned theory, and that theory is 
well supported by experience. 

Now exaltation of the process of respiration, by what- 
ever means, effects this additional supply of blood ; and 
hydropathy exalts that function, increasing, as it does, both 
the rapidity and depth of breathing. The more frequently 
a man breathes, the more atmospheric oxygen is inhaled, 
and passes into the blood, through the lining membrane of 
the air-cells. As before explained, the more oxygen that 
is conveyed to the periphery, or rather to the whole sub- 
stance of the body in the blood, the more actively go on 
those chemical changes in the tissues, which are prepara- 
tory to the expulsion of worn out, effoete materials, and 
which give rise to the evolution of animal heat. The more 
energetically these chemical decompositions take place, of 
course the more abundantly is old tissue cast off, and ulti- 
mately expelled from the body, and the more speedy the 
consequent desire for a new supply of fresh tissue. This 



22 STATE OF THE BLOOD. 

can only be contributed through the digestive organs, so 
that thus an appetite is created. But the appetite which 
probably was altogether absent, or at least ailing and ca- 
pricious before, is no sooner felt, than gratified. And in 
this way new materials enter copiously into the body, ca- 
pable of becoming manufactured by an elaborate machinery 
into good nourishing blood. A part of this of course finds 
its way to the debilitated coats of blood-vessels, the seat 
of congestion. The vascular tunics, in consequence, be- 
come re-invigorated, and regain their elasticity ; on account 
of recovering this property, they contract and close upon 
their stagnating contents. The slow current is urged for- 
ward, the congestion gradually disappears, and health is 
re-established. 

We have now seen the effect of exalted respiration in re- 
moving ordinary congestive diseases. But there is another 
kind of congestion, a sort of acute, inflammatory conges- 
tion. The first comes under the denomination of passive, 
the latter of active, congestion. As this affection is more 
nearly allied to acute, than to chronic disease, no further 
notice of it will be here admissible, as chronic maladies 
alone are the subject of the present discussion. 

The next cause of chronic disease, and a most universal 
one it is, is, according to the preceding classification, a de- 
ficiency of blood, or which is the same thing, an impover- 
ished or watery state of that fluid, producing, as it does, of 
course, a deficiency of its essential ingredients. The most 
important of these ingredients are the red globules, fibrine, 
or, as it is called under certain circumstances, plastic 
lymph, and albumen, that substance which, present in an 
eggj is called the white-of-egg. The red globules discharge 
the office of conveying oxygen from the air-cells of the 
lungs, where it enters, to the tissues spread over the entire 
body. They may be looked upon as so many minute carts 
or waggons, perpetually running between the lungs and 
tissues, laden on one journey with oxygen, and on the 



CONSTITUENTS OF THE BLOOD. 23 

other with carbonic acid gas, — the oxygen to help to pull 
down used-up structures, the carbonic acid, the result of 
the union of the oxygen with the worn out material, to be 
expelled into the air through the pulmonary membrane. 
The colouring matter of the blood is located in these little 
spheres. 

The fibrine, or coagulable lymph, is that part of the blood 
which, when a person is phlebotomized, and the extracted 
fluid allowed to stand in an open vessel, forms the floating 
coagulum or clot. It is tinged, of course, by the mechani- 
cal adherence of some red particles to its substance. It is 
out of the fibrine of the blood that muscles and many other 
solid parts of the body are manufactured. Its importance, 
therefore, in contributing to the integrity of the vital fluid 
can no more be questioned than that of the globular red 
particles. 

After the fibrine has spontaneously separated from the 
rest of the liquid in an open vessel containing blood, if the 
liquid residue be submitted to the application of heat, 
another coagulum will be formed. This is albumen, and 
of it many parts of the frame, especially the cerebro-spinal 
system, and ligamentous tissues, are fabricated. 

Now when these essential constituents of the blood are 
deficient, just as much as when the whole quantity of that 
fluid is abnormally small, is the invalid said to labour under 
anaemia. Does accelerated respiration, brought about as 
it is by hydropathic appliances, tend to restore these in- 
gredients to their normal quantity ? Most assuredly, for 
has it not been shewn that increased breathing both im- 
parts, when absent, and improves, when indifferent, the 
appetite, and consequent ingestion of food ? And, since 
they depend for their existence upon the matters taken 
into the stomach, must it not inevitably follow that the 
more food received into the body, cceteris paribus, there 
must be a corresponding increase in the essential ingre- 
dients of the blood ? And in this way in truth is anaemia 



24 DISEASES FROM IMPURITY OF THE BLOOD. 

both when consisting of a really diminished quantity of 
blood, and when of an impoverished condition of that fluid, 
permanently cured. 

It only remains now to speak of those diseases that 
arise from an impure or poisonous state of the blood. Gout 
may be taken as a specimen of disease of this pathological 
condition. The nature of gout essentially is the existence 
in the blood of an acid in great abundance, called uric acid. 
If this abnormal substance were to continue for any length 
of period increasing in the blood, it would unquestionably 
impart such a poisonous property to that vital fluid, as to 
become fatal to life. Nature, therefore, endeavours to 
throw it out of the system through the medium of the 
different articulations. This remedial effort constitutes a 
fit of the gout, and the joint most usually selected for this 
purpose is that which unites the great toe to the bone of 
the foot immediately above. Now it necessarily follows, 
that however much an acute attack may be ameliorated by- 
remedial measures, the only way to cure gout, to eradicate 
it from the system, is to destroy the uric acid in the blood, 
and having done so, to prevent its re-formation, in other 
words, to purify the blood and maintain it in a state of 
purity. And what so capable of doing this both effectually 
and permanently, as the invigoration of that process which 
imports oxygen into the system, which aerates the blood, 
which regulates the chemical action in the tissues, upon 
which, in fact, depends the due performance of all the vital 
functions? Increased power, therefore, of the respiratory 
process, beyond a doubt, is the thing calculated not only 
to eradicate the poison of gout, but to cure all the other 
maladies arising from the presence of impurities in the 
blood. 

Thus, then, it appears that hydropathy, through the in- 
fluence it exerts upon the lungs, is capable of producing a 
beneficial effect, at least in all chronic diseases. And such 
a point of fact the author firmly believes to be the case. 



THE ORIGIN OF DISEASE. 25 

Even in those affections which are no more curable by hy- 
dropathy than by any other system of remedial agency, he 
certainly thinks that patients will leave a cold water estab- 
lishment in a fundamentally better state of health than they 
enjoyed on their entry therein. Although the local dis- 
ease, perhaps some tumor, it may be even cancerous, or 
scrofulous, be not removed, nor at all likely to be removed, 
still so much benefit is usually conferred upon the general 
health, in the shape of increased vigor, mental and physical, 
improved appetite, and rectified secretions,, that the pa- 
tient does not repent his hydropathic sojourn. 

The author has now cursorily described a few of the 
happy results that follow improvement in the process of 
respiration. Such improvement is proved in the ensuing 
experiments to attend upon the various hydropathic appli- 
cations. 

In the last paragraph but one, the author has striven to 
shew how hydropathy may be beneficial in nearly all 
chronic diseases, of however dissimilar pathological charac- 
ter, through its influence upon the respiration. Lest it 
should appear to some sceptically inclined that there is a 
little over-straining in this matter, he would beg permission 
to support this argument by the brief introduction of 
another. He would premise, however, that among those 
thoroughly conversant with the subject, the fact is un- 
questioned. 

Let the reader kindly picture to himself, if possible in 
this civilized world of ours, a man in perfect health, at all 
events in the enjoyment of so much as is commonly called 
good health. It is to be supposed that every one is blessed 
with this happy condition at some period of his life, how- 
ever early, with the exception of a few miserable crea- 
tures that are born diseased. Now, when a person is once 
healthy, how does he become unhealthy ? What is it that 
permits the ingress of disease ? Be it remembered that 
chronic disease alone is to be taken into account. When, 

E 



26 DIVISION OF ORGANS. 

then, does this disease find admittance into the system ? 
What is the origin of dyspepsia ? In what manner does 
congestion of the brain commence ? How does the kid- 
ney degenerate into that peculiar state christened after Dr. 
Bright ? Why do the bowels cease to perform their func- 
tion ? Do all these evils spring up of themselves, without 
any other recognizable cause ? Certainly not. It is im- 
possible it should be so. When the human machinery is 
in perfect order, it is quite impossible to understand how 
it should become disarranged without some independent 
external agency. The seeds of consumption will grow 
spontaneously, when placed in a fit receptacle, but they 
must first be sown. 

Let us now inquire into those matters which are capable 
of exerting an influence, beneficial or deleterious, upon 
the animal economy from without, that is independent of 
the animal economy. It will be found that certain organs 
are exposed to external impressions, and that certain 
others are not so, (except of course secondarily through 
the medium of the first). Those organs that are subject 
to external impressions may be enumerated as follows : 1. 
The gastro-intestinal mucous membrane, consisting of the 
mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large bowels. 2, 
The mucous membrane of the air-passages containing the 
larynx, the trachea or windpipe, the bronchial tubes, and 
the air-cells of the lungs. 3. The cutaneous membrane, or 
as it may be called, the external mucous membrane. 4. The 
brain. 5. The organs of propagation. The viscera, that 
may be said to be not primarily susceptible to external in- 
fluence are, 1. The heart. 2. The Liver. 3. The kid- 
neys. 4. The spleen. 5. The pancreas. 6. The bladder. 
The first series of organs are very much under our own 
control. The second are totally independent of us. The 
consequence is, that we can and do abuse the former very 
frequently in a straightforward manner. The latter suffer 
only indirectly. And the author has not the slightest ti- 



THE DIGESTIVE MUCOUS MEMBRANE. 2/ 

midity in avowing that disease first enters the body through 
some gate found open in one or more of the first five 
organs — that internal disease of whatever kind, and where- 
ever located is invariably the result of some morbid im- 
pression made upon one or more of these five organs from 
without. Nor are even hereditary affections, or any spe- 
cific maladies, as miasmatic or contagious disorders, any 
exception to this general, nay, universal principle. 

The mode in which such morbid impressions may be, 
and are daily made upon the system by the medium of the 
organs before-mentioned, as susceptible of external influ- 
ences, is easily enough understood. Let us begin with the 
one placed first on the list, namely the gastro-intestinal 
mucous membrane. This long tract of surface lining the 
interior of the mouth, throat, esophagus or gullet, and sto- 
mach, the three small bowels, viz. the duodenum, ilium, 
and jejunum, and the three large bowels, viz. the ccecum, 
colon, and rectum carries on the digestive department of the 
animal functions. In the mouth the food is received and 
masticated. In the stomach it is tristurated with the aid 
of the gastric juice, till it is converted into a grey pulpy 
mass, called chyle. In the duodenum this mass comes 
in contact with the secretion of the liver, the bile, which 
separates it into two portions, the nutritious chyle, and 
the non -nutritious residue. Along the whole length of 
the small bowels are ranged a number of microscopically 
minute hollow organs, called lacteals, through whose fine, 
attenuated investing membrane this chyle penetrates to be 
carried by vessels, called lymphatics or absorbents, into the 
veins. It is then carried by the current of the blood, 
venous blood of course, to the lungs, where it is aerated, 
and rendered fit for the fabrication of human tissue. The 
innutritious residue passes along the small bowels into the 
large ones. It there mixes with certain local secretions, 
and the mixture constitutes what is finally expelled. 
From this it plainly appears that anything taken into the 



28 THE DIGESTIVE MUCOUS MEMBEANE. 

mouth of an irritating nature is capable of irritating all 
these parts engaged in the process of digestion, and di- 
rectly and deleteriously affecting the correct discharge of 
their functions. In this way unwholesome articles of food, 
as well as food in too hot or too cold a state, also irregu- 
larity in taking sustenance, sometimes taking too much, at 
other times going too long without any, for the gastro- 
intestinal mucous membrane suffers as much from the re- 
ception of too much or too little food, as from such as is 
of an unwholesome character — in this way, to repeat, all 
these unnatural inconsistencies produce their injurious 
effect. And in this way is one gate opened for the admis- 
sion of disease. When once entered, his devastations may 
be modified in character and extent according to various 
casualties. And the only way to drive him out is through 
the same road by which he entered ; namely, it is only by 
instituting dietetic regimen, that he can be expelled, and 
afterwards kept at a distance. Now, there is no one thing 
upon which hydropathy insists more unflinchingly than 
upon dietetic regimen. 

Let it be borne in mind, nevertheless, that it is not in- 
tended to assert that, when disease has once got a firm hold 
upon several internal viscera, although it effected its en- 
trance into the system through a dietetic error, or rather a 
series of dietetic errors, it can be at once and effectually 
expelled by abandoning those inconsistencies merely. 
Otherwise disease arising from this source might be cured 
by the individual leaving his pursuits and making a sojourn, 
say at a farm-house of primitive dietetic simplicity, with- 
out having recourse at all to hydropathic or non-hydro- 
pathic physician. But this has been proved to be insuffi- 
cient. Mere correction of diet is not enough. What the 
author, therefore, wishes the reader to understand is this, 
that unless the aid of dietetic regimen be sought, or in 
other words, if the cause of the malady be allowed to con- 
tinue in full force, all other treatment he may adopt will 



THE AERIAL MUCOUS MEMBRANE. 29 

fall to the ground useless. Let these remarks also be well 
remembered, when speaking of diseases admitted into the 
body through the other organs exposed to external 
influences. 

The mucous membrane of the air passages is the gate, 
by which the obnoxious properties of impure air are im- 
bibed into the system. It is there that various poisonous 
gases find admission. The most common of these is car- 
bonic acid, which is the principal ingredient of the vapor 
exhaled from the lungs. Hence its abundant presence in 
places of public amusement, balls, concerts, &c. It is 
questionable however whether this gas, when present only 
in such quantity as not to render the air irrespirable, really 
enters the blood, or only acts injuriously by excluding 
oxygen. Pure carbonic acid gas cannot be inspired as it 
always causes the spasmodic closure of the top of the 
windpipe. 

Through this pulmonary mucous membrane then the 
obnoxious effects of too warm an air, an impure air, &c. are 
manifested in the economy. And any maladies arising 
from the inhalation of an impure atmosphere can only be 
thoroughly extirpated by the substitution of a pure one. 
For example, if a person living in a marshy, miasmatic dis- 
trict, be afflicted with ague, the first prescription is to 
remove the patient into a dry atmosphere. Without this 
precaution the chances of success are but small. Now, 
as the hydropathist rigidly enjoins regimen in diet, so also 
does he maintain the absolute necessity of pure air in the 
vicinity of his establishment. 

The third organ on the list, as susceptible of external 
influences, is the skin. This membrane is the most extensive, 
one of the most important, and the most complicated organ 
in the body. Nevertheless it is the most easily maintained 
in the proper discharge of its various offices, and no 
doubt, therefore, the most religiously neglected. The skin 
occupies so momentous a position in connexion with the 



30 THE ANATOMY OF THE SKIN. 

subject of hydropathy, that the author entreats permission 
to say a few words concerning its anatomy and physiology, 
even though it should appear a digression. 

A man of moderate height and bulk presents a surface 
of two thousand, five hundred square inches. This of 
course therefore is the exact admeasurement of the skin. 
Now with regard to its anatomical construction. 

However simple this membrane may appear by looking at it 
only with a bird's-eye-view, very many diversified elements 
enter into its composition. The most important of these, 
or at all events those which alone require mentioning here, 
are: — 1. The papillae, which form the residence of the 
sense of touch. 2. The sebacious follicles, placed there 
for the object of lubricating the surface. 3. The perspi- 
ratory apparatus. The papillae are a number of minute 
pyramidal bodies, whose apices are perpendicular to the 
surface. If any of them be exposed by the removal of 
their protective covering, the cuticle, as by a blister or burn, 
acute pain is experienced. They are most abundant where 
the sense of touch is most acute. The pulpy surface of 
the extremity of the finger is therefore abundantly sup- 
plied with them. The common corn is nothing more than 
the hypertrophy of one of these conical papillae, covered 
over with a thick layer of cuticle. " Cutting a corn " 
dimishes the pressure upon the tender spot caused by the 
boot, or anything else. 

Superficial neuralgic, or tic pains may be all expressed by 
a fitful irritability of these neglected and ill-used organs. 
Ill-used, be it repeated ; because this unnatural impres- 
sionability is not owing to chance, nor to the season, nor 
to the calumniated climate of England, but simply to the 
wilful neglect of those who suffer. If the victims of these 
aches and pains would only pay half the attention to their 
own health that they do to their cash accounts, or idle 
amusements, their penance would be unpaid, their lumba- 
gos, rheumatisms, and tics unfelt. 



EXPERIMENTS ON THE PERSPIRATION. 31 

The sebaceous follicles are minute crypts or blind 
alleys scattered all over the skin, whose office it is to 
secrete an oleaginous fluid for the sake of maintaining the 
cuticle or external integument in a constantly moist and plia- 
ble condition. It is inflammation supervening upon obstruc- 
tion of these follicles that gives rise to that crop of pimples 
frequently so flourishing about the age of adolescence. 

The perspiratory apparatus differs from the sebacious 
in secreting its fluid, for which there is no further use in 
the animal economy. The organs devoted to this object are 
a series of small glands pervading the whole superficies of 
the body, but more abundant beneath the arms than else- 
where, and made up of a convoluted tube terminating in a 
straight one, which discharges its contents by an open 
mouth on the surface of the skin like an ordinary sewer. 

A philosopher, called Sanctorius, weighed himself, his 
food, and his excretions every day for thirty years, with 
the intention of ascertaining how much of the waste of the 
body passed off by the lungs, kidneys, bowels, and skin. 
He arrived at the conclusion that five-eighths of all dis- 
charged escaped through the skin. 

Another philosopher of the name of Seguin, with the 
same object in view, performed the following ingenious 
experiment. He procured a perfectly air-tight bag, with 
which he completetly invested himself, leaving a hole to 
breathe through. The edges of this opening were glued 
to his lips, so that no perspiration could escape. By care- 
fully weighing himself at the beginning of the experiment, 
and twice at the end, viz., in, and out of the bag, he 
ascertained first how much in weight he lost by pulmonary 
exhalation, and secondly how much by cutaneous secretion. 
His body lost on the average through both channels together 
eighteen grains per minute, eleven of which permeated the 
skin, while seven only escaped by the lungs. Eleven grains 
per minute are equal to thirty-three ounces per day. 
And it must be remembered that the whole of this loss was 



32 RESULTS OF SUPPRESSED PERSPIRATION. 

by insensible perspiration, of which one takes no cognizance. 
Now if it be natural for a man to eat, say a pound and a 
half of food per diem, and for the skin to excrete in the 
same time thirty-three ounces of fluid from the body, it 
is as important, consistently with health, for the whole of 
that fluid to be so discharged, as it is for the whole of that 
food to be taken. It is perfectly true that if this, the 
natural passage for certain portions of the debris of the 
body, be impervious, as it too frequently is, that the kid- 
neys will endeavour to compensate for the fault in the skin 
by doing double duty. But what is the consequence ? 
The kidneys of course suffer from excess of work, and the 
skin from inactivity becomes still more diseased than it was 
before. Dr. Osborne,* a gentleman who has made kidney 
disease his peculiar study, declares that twenty-two cases 
out of thirty-six of that affection were immediately attri- 
butable to suppressed perspiration. And Dr. Christison, in 
his work on granular degeneration of the kidney, confirms 
the opinion by saying that, where his patients did not 
ascribe the cause of their disease to suppressed perspira- 
tion, they gave no cause at all. Who does not know that 
inflammation of the lungs, bowels, and brain, gout, rheuma- 
tism, and every acute disease under the sun, occasionally 
if not generally proceed from the same cause ? Is it not 
therefore truly marvellous, acquainted as we are with these 
facts, and a clear knowledge of the necessary baneful 
results of their neglect staring us full in the face, that we 
should suffer this most vital organ to dry up like parchment, 
to fall into such ruinous decay as to be unfitted for its 
office ? 

Thirty-three ounces (or rather more than two pounds) of 
a fluid containing solid matter in solution passing ^ut of 
the body through the skin daily, it follows as a matter of 
certainty that some portion must become concrete, and 

# Osborne on Dropsies ; second edition, London, 1837. 



RESULTS OF SUPPRESSED PERSPIRATION. 33 

adhere to the surface. To obviate any evil consequence 
that might arise therefore this should of course be washed 
away. But if no such ablution be performed, the chan- 
nels both of the sebaceous follicles, and the perspiratory 
glands become obstructed, the former causing the skin to 
become harsh, dry and brittle, and the latter giving rise to 
the already-mentioned injurious results of suppressed per- 
spiration. Two of the elements of this complex structure 
being deleteriously affected, its other component parts soon 
participate in the mischief. For example the papillary 
or sensitive layer becomes acutely irritable, and neuralgic 
pains follow. There is also a wonderfully close sympathy 
between the skin and the digestive viscera, so that the 
chorus is soon swelled by the discordant voice and manifold 
horrors of dyspepsia. General ill health, malaise, debility, 
languor, now reign triumphant. The patient becomes very 
delicate, and susceptible of cold. More flannels are put 
on the body, more blankets on the bed, more fuel on the 
fire. He trembles when he asks which way the wind 
is, shudders at the mention of cold water, and in one word 
an affection that could have been washed away with a hand- 
ful of water is about to degenerate into a serious disease. 
And yet how many wash their skin once a day ? How many 
once a week? How many once a month ? 

One more important function of the skin, and one not 
to be passed over in silence, is the regulation of the animal 
heat. It is very well established that however much the 
temperature of the surrounding atmosphere may vary, that 
of the human body remains within a degree or two invar- 
iably the same. In our own fluctuating climate this is ex- 
tremely important. For otherwise our bodies would one 
day be at summer heat, another at winter heat, and so on, 
a changeableness clearly incompatible with human life. 
Were it not so too, we should be necessitated to remain for 
ever in the climate of our birth. But on account of this 
innate power of maintaining undisturbed the same, and 

F 



34 THE SKIN THE REGULATOR OF ANIMAL HEAT. 

normal temperature of the interior of the body, we can 
shift about from east to west, from north to south, with im- 
punity. Captain Ross in his journey to the polar regions 
endured an amount of cold capable of freezing mercury, 
namely, forty degrees below zero. Sir Joseph Banks re- 
mained for a short time in a room whose temperature was 
raised fifty degrees above the point where water boils, 
namely, two hundred and sixty two. In this experiment 
either Sir Joseph or one of his companions wore a pair of 
spectacles, which became so hot, that the metal burnt his 
skin, and he was obliged to remove them. And yet neither 
Captain Ross nor Sir Joseph Banks experienced the slight- 
est harm. Why ? Because the heat of their internal vis- 
cera was unaffected. If it had been possible for the 
surrounding atmosphere to influence or alter it in any way, 
Captain Ross's blood would have become converted into 
sticks of red ice, and that of Sir J. Banks would have co- 
agulated like a boiled egg. 

The power of thus controlling and limiting the tempera- 
ture of the body is vested in the skin. Every portion of 
fluid secreted through its pores in its passage from the 
fluid to the vaporous form must appropriate a large quan- 
tity of heat, thereby rendering what before was sensible 
latent, and obviously producing a cooling effect. Now it 
follows that the more fluid there is extricated from the 
body, the more sensible heat will be rendered insensible or 
latent (passing away from the body with the vapour and 
diffusing itself in the atmosphere), and so the greater the 
amount of coolness developed. And the power of secre- 
ting almost any amount of fluid, and so of abstracting any 
amount of heat forms one of the many functions of the 
skin. When, therefore, the system is exposed to great 
heat as on a hot summer's day, or in a tropical climate, or 
by great muscular exertion, so that there would otherwise 
be a danger of raising the temperature of the body to an 
abnormal elevation, and so put life in peril, the skin im- 



SYMPATHY BETWEEN THE SKIN AND KIDNEYS. 35 

mediately throws all her flood-gates wide open, and the 
refrigerating agent, in the shape of perspiration, flows out 
profusely. Thus all injury is prevented. So on the other 
hand, when the temperature of the medium in which the 
body is placed is gradually lowered, as by sheltering it 
from the hot rays of the sun, or by cessation from muscu- 
lar exercise, these gates are one after another, so to speak, 
shut up, and the moisture exuding from the body, falls in 
quantity to the ordinary amount of insensible perspiration. 
This beautiful sliding-scale power with which the skin is 
endowed, is still more palpably exemplified in a sudden 
change of temperature. For instance, while a man is sit- 
ting over wine and dessert with his convivial friends in a 
heated dining room, every pore of his skin is eliminating 
fluid for evaporation. His entire surface feels moist. The 
whole of the fluid, that is extricated from his body, passes 
through the skin. The kidneys lie idle. This is to pre- 
vent the otherwise inevitable consequence, fever. And in 
this state of artificial excitement, the result of civilization, 
and the march of intellect, while his stomach is being 
fretted and irritated by the perpetual droppings of wine 
into its cavity, over-burthened as it already is by the soup, 
fish, flesh, and pastry, while the wordy war on politics, lite- 
rature, or ballet-dancers is exciting his brain, the whole 
heightened by the glare and heat of fire and candles — 
where in one word actual fever would be lighted up as an 
inevitable consequence, the good skin is industriously and 
untiringly at work to counteract these evil proceedings and 
prevent the threatened mischief. Let now such a person 
suddenly emerge from such a state of things into the cold 
air. He is forthwith in as much danger from the contrary 
extreme. If his skin continued secreting largely as before, 
the reaction from his previous over-stimulated or febrile 
condition would kill him outright, because it would be 
aided by the evaporation from the surface. But what 
occurs ? The skin instantly shuts up all her hitherto open 



36 CONSEQUENCES OF CHECKED PEESPIEATION. 

orifices. Superficial evaporation is at once stopped ; and 
thereby an immense amount of animal heat, that would 
otherwise have been dispersed, is retained within the body. 
But there is now another danger of great magnitude to be 
apprehended. It is this. Whenever a copious discharge 
of any kind from the body is suddenly interrupted, consi- 
derable peril is incurred from a fear of the blood being 
diverted in large quantities from the part, whence the dis- 
charge had issued, to some internal and vital organ incapa- 
ble of separating it from the body, as the lungs, heart, or 
liver. In such cases most serious mischief is to be dreaded. 
How, then, in the instance just described is such an evil 
obviated? Most easily. The kidneys, whose functions 
in the hot dining-room were suspended to accommodate the 
skin, now in the cold air resume their duties. The same 
quantity of fluid escapes as before, but through a different 
channel. And although evaporation follows its emission, 
it does not occur on the skin, so that no cooling effect on 
the body is produced. 

It will now be easily conceived, to speak paradoxically, 
how inconceivably important to life is this heat-regulating 
principle, with whose administration the skin is entrusted. 
And moreover it appears to the author that the reader 
must agree with him, that an organ deemed worthy to re- 
ceive so high and vital a trust should be treated with pre- 
eminent consideration, and shielded from danger with the 
most scrupulous care. 

It has been already stated that when any habitual dis- 
charge from the body receives a check, or is altogether ob- 
structed, the current of blood that had been determined 
to the part, whence the flux had issued, and which was 
necessary to maintain it in activity, is diverted from its 
course, and being thus diverted must invade some other 
part of the body. An excellent example of this occurs 
in vicarious menstruation. In this case the blood, that 
should pour itself into the tissue of the womb, being from 



D1ARRHCEA, DYSPEPSIA, CONSUMPTION. 37 

some cause or other refused admission into that organ, 
finds its way into some other, as the lungs, stomach, or 
nose. Under these circumstances haemorrhage from any 
of these viscera is no uncommon occurrence. The same 
thing takes place when the perspiration is obstructed. 
But, generally speaking, it luckily happens that those very 
organs that are by nature the best adapted to undertake 
this supplementary action, and perform the skin's duty, are 
those upon which it for the most part falls, to wit, the 
kidneys. As a general rule, perhaps, no great harm results 
from this arrangement. But if from any cause, as from 
recent debility, or constitutional delicacy, the kidneys be 
incompetent to accomplish the extra duty, disease of those 
viscera is the inevitable consequence. And then the only 
mode of effectively treating such disease, is at once to 
strike at the root of the evil, to withdraw from the labour- 
ing kidneys their unnatural burden, and restore to the skin 
its proper secretion. Hydropathy does this. 

Sometimes in obstructed perspiration the unwelcome 
charge of carrying on its office falls to the lot of the mu- 
cous membrane of the intestinal canal, and a diarrhoea is 
the result. In such case there is the same obvious method 
of cure as in the instance last mentioned, viz., to restore 
the proper secretion to the skin, thus diverting the flow of 
blood from the bowels. And hydropathy does this. 

The blood instead of being determined to the intestinal 
portion of the mucous membrane, may invest the gas- 
tric portion, the stomach. Nausea, vomiting, heartburn, 
acidity, water-brash, and a long array of dyspeptic annoy- 
ances supervene. In such an example your medicinal 
armament is of no avail. Nothing will materially benefit 
the patient, but efficiently restoring to the skin its proper 
secretion, and it is hydropathy alone that does this. 

Lastly, the internal irritation arising from deficient or 
absent action in the skin may manifest itself in the lungs, 
and cough, difficulty in respiration, expectoration, and in 



38 DR. COMBE CURED OF CONSUMPTION 

bad cases many of the symptoms of pulmonary consumption 
itself are developed. Indeed there seems to be a very strong 
link between actual consumption, and want of energy in 
the cutaneous circulation and secretion, and symptoms of 
inactivity of the latter, including cold feet and hands, 
general chilliness and susceptibility to take cold, so com- 
monly precede the manifestation of the former, that the 
author is not sure they do not very frequently bear the re- 
lation to each other of cause and effect. At all events in 
the early stages of consumption the only possible hope of 
effecting a cure is through the medium of the skin. It is 
by influencing the cutaneous functions that riding, and 
sailing, friction, and emetics have each acquired their sup- 
porters in the treatment of this English scourge. Speak- 
ing of the efficacy of sailing in incipient consumption Dr. 
Andrew Combe details his own case in the following words : 
" The writer of these remarks became ill in the month 
of January, 1820, and soon presented many of the symp- 
toms of pulmonary consumption. In spite of the best 
advice, he continued losing ground till the month of July, 
when he went by sea to London on his way to the south of 
France ; but finding himself unable for the journey, he 
was obliged to return from London, also by sea. Being 
extremely liable to sea-sickness, he was squeamish or sick 
during the whole of both voyages — so much so as to be in 
a state of gentle perspiration for a great part of the time. 
After this he became sensible for the first time of a slight 
improvement in his health and strength, and of a diminu- 
tion of febrile excitement. Some weeks afterwards he 
embarked for the Mediterranean, and encountered a suc- 
cession of storms for the first four weeks, two of which 
were spent in the month of November in the Bay of Bis- 
cay in a very heavy sea. For more than three weeks he 
was generally very sick, and always in a state of nausea ; 
and during the whole time, although his bed was repeatedly 
partially wetted by salt water, and the weather cold, the 



THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF THE SKIN. 39 

flow of blood towards the skin was so powerful as to keep it 
generally warm, always moist, and often wet with perspira- 
tion, forced out by retching and nausea. The result was 
that on entering the Mediterranean at the end of a month, 
and there meeting fine weather, he found himself, though 
still more reduced in flesh and very weak, in every other 
respect decidedly improved ; and on his arrival in Italy at 
the end of seven weeks recovery fairly commenced, after 
about ten months illness ; and by great care it went on 
with little interruption, till the summer of 1821, when he 
returned home." 

It is manifest in this case Dr. Combe ascribed his inci- 
pient consumption to a sluggish state of his cutaneous 
circulation, and consequent deficient perspiration, and at- 
tributes his cure to their restoration. And as a general 
rule what remedy so efficient to produce this happy effect 
as the hydropathic treatment ? 

One more word on the skin, and the action of hydropathy 
upon that membrane. The blood in its never-ceasing pro- 
gressive movement from the heart and lungs, (in which 
latter organs it has undergone the purifying process of 
decarbonization) to the periphery of the body, permeating 
in its course and repairing all the various tissues, passes 
perpetually from larger vessels into smaller ones, till it ar- 
rives at those minute hair-like tubes called capillaries. It 
is in these delicate canals, or rather outside their walls, that 
the process of formation and demolition, or in one word re- 
pairing of the body, is executed. Healthy, rosy, arterial 
blood, fresh from the lungs, exudes out of them. Its fibrine 
is deposited as good, new, solid tissue, while its oxygen 
uniting with bad, old, worn-out tissue, exudes back again 
into them, imparting to it the dark colour of venous or im- 
pure blood. This fluid now, contaminated as it is, pro- 
ceeds onwards in its circulating motion to the part from 
whence it came, the heart and lungs, to be again submitted 
to the process of purification. And while moving in this 



40 THE ORGANS OF CIRCULATION ARE 

direction, having thus abandoned the arteries for the 
veins, it is perpetually passing from smaller vessels into 
larger ones. Now this passage, firstly, from large into 
smaller channels (in the arteries), and, secondly, from small 
channels into large (in the veins), is calculated to throw 
considerable impediment in its course, the former from the 
increasing amount of friction, the latter from the tendency 
to stagnation acquired by every fluid emerging from a con- 
fined into an open space. Having to contend against such 
obstructions blocking up its path, it follows that to make 
its way effectually through them, there must be a powerful 
ms a tergo. Such a vis a tergo every one who has the 
slightest conception of what he is made, knows to exist in 
that hollow muscle, the heart, and in the elastic, contractile 
walls of the arteries. But every one does not know that 
there is another organ, besides the heart and arteries, that 
performs most efficient service in aiding to maintain the 
regularity of the circulation. This organ is the skin, and 
its medium of action is the perspiration. The important 
duty alluded to is executed after this manner. 

" Nature abhors a vacuum," that is, whenever in any 
given space there is a tendency to the formation of a 
vacuum, in the surrounding atmosphere there is always a 
tendency to prevent it by rushing in, and taking the place 
of the dissipated air. A perfect vacuum has never yet been 
produced even by artificial contrivances of a chemical or 
mechanical nature. But without the aid of art, not even 
the 'partial vacuum, commonly called a vacuum, ever exists 
for an appreciable length of time. And the greater the 
tendency to a vacuum, the greater the tendency of the cir- 
cumambient atmosphere to occupy the would-be void. 

In a room where there is a fire and a door, there is 
always a draught between them, that is, a current of air 
passing from the latter to the former. The heat of the 
fire rarities the air in the chimney, and would soon generate 
a vacuum therein, but that a new supply is immediately 



THE HEART, THE ARTERIES, AND THE SKIN. 41 

obtained from the room. This causes the same disposition 
to a vacuum there, which is prevented by a rush of air 
through the crevices round the door inwards. 

All these phenomena are displayed in precisely the same 
manner and order in the human skin. Perspiration exudes 
through the coats of a capillary. Instantly there is a ten- 
dency to the formation of a vacuum in the interior of the 
vessel. Instantly this tendency is counteracted by a rush 
of blood from behind. More perspiration escapes. Again 
a vacuum would be formed, but that more blood hurries to 
the spot. In this manner then the circulating fluid receives 
an impetus, not only from a vis a tergo, but also from avis 
a f route. And in this manner blood is determined to the 
skin, to the periphery of the body, from the interior, from 
the large vessels and vital organs. 

The organs of circulation, therefore, are the heart, the 
elastic coats of the arteries, and the skin. Which is the 
most important ? In an El Dorado state they would no 
doubt be exactly equal in this respect in the animal eco- 
nomy. But inasmuch as the two first go through their 
evolutions quite independently of all volitional control, 
whereas the function of the last maybe influenced in regu- 
larity and power very much by ourselves at pleasure, and 
we are not slow to take advantage of this to our own detri- 
ment, it seems to the author that a study of the last is of 
far the greatest moment. So that in addition to the host 
of other evils curtailed upon our unfortunate bodies by a 
neglect of this most important membrane is that of depriv- 
ing the blood of one out of three of its organs of circula- 
tion. And hydropathy, exercising as it does a direct 
influence upon the skin, must exercise also an indirect in- 
fluence upon the circulation, and upon diseases of the cir- 
culation. 

The fourth organ that is directly susceptible to the influ- 
ence of external objects, and therefore opens a fourth gate 
to the approach of disease, is the brain. This is the ma- 

G- 



42 IMPORTANCE OF REGIMEN IN THE 

terial organ of the mind, and is entrusted with the office 
of transmitting to the body the mandates of the will. It 
is the seat of emotion, thought, perception, and all mental 
and moral faculties. And on this account it holds a much 
more exalted position than any other part of the body. 

As the muscular system to be maintained in health, re- 
quires a regimen of exercise, so also is it necessary duly to 
regulate the exercise of the brain, to insure the correct 
performance of its functions. And as by want of employ- 
ment muscles become weakened and emaciated, bones lose 
their hardness and bend, and blood-vessels degenerate into 
solid cords, so does the brain by mental inactivity lose its 
intellectual vigor, and relapse into imbecility. But the re- 
semblance extends still farther. For as by violent, over- 
straining efforts, a muscle may be torn, an artery burst, a 
bone snapped asunder, so by imposing upon the brain too 
much mental labour, the delicate structure of that organ 
may suffer with great severity. 

Whenever a person labours under considerable mental 
excitement, an unusual quantity of blood flows into the 
brain. This can be proved in many ways. But it will be 
sufficient to relate the following illustrative case. It oc- 
curred to Dr. Pierquin at the hospital of Montpellier in 
the year 1821, and is reported by Dr. Caldwell in his 
" Annals of Phrenology," in these words. " The subject 
of it was a female at the age of twenty-six, who had lost 
a large portion of her scalp, skull-bone, and dura-mater 
in a neglected attack of lues venerea. A corresponding 
portion of her brain was consequently bare, and subject to 
inspection. When she was in a dreamless sleep, her brain 
was motionless and lay within the cranium. When her 
sleep was imperfect and she was agitated by dreams, her 
brain moved, and protruded without the cranium, forming 
cerebral hernia. In vivid dreams, reported as seen by her- 
self, the protrusion was considerable ; and when she was 
perfectly awake, especially if engaged in active thought 



EXERCISE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE BRAIN. 43 

and sprightly conversation, it was still greater." From this 
and many similar cases the inference appears indisputable, 
that the more intensely the mind is occupied, the greater 
is the rush of blood to the head. This is sometimes car- 
ried to such an extent in public speaking, where the 
mental excitement occasionally knows no limit, that the 
brain has yielded to the engorgement, and the orator been 
suddenly stricken with apoplexy. 

This determination of blood to the brain, if the emo- 
tional excitement that produced it pass away in a short 
time, inflicts no injury. But if the cause be continued, 
the force of the cerebral circulation may become so ener- 
getic as to occasion the laceration of a blood-vessel. The 
consequence of this of course is most serious. Effusion 
of blood into the tissue of the brain occurs, and an apo- 
plectic fit is the result. But far more generally the in- 
creased rapidity and force of the cerebral circulation relap- 
ses into a chronic congestion of that organ. Every day we 
see this well exemplified in that most valuable class of men 
the commercial community. They very often devote them- 
selves with such application to their avocations, that they 
live in a state of constant anxiety. But it is incorrect to 
limit this state of things to any one class in the present 
day. For at this moment there seems to be but one ob- 
ject, that all classes and individuals are endeavouring to 
reach. That is the accumulation of wealth. Every one 
is striving to make a fortune. As if that were the aim of 
existence. As though we were put into the world to amass 
a heap of money ! A truly paltry pursuit, and this age, 
which may be called the age of £. s. d., a truly contempt- 
ible one ! But such being the actual state of things, there 
is no help for it. It is futile railing against it. If men 
will rack their brains for the means of gaining in the short- 
est time the longest purse, those brains will become con- 
gested. But let me not be thought too sweeping in my 
observations. Although this results most frequently from 



44 DANGEKS OF INTELLECTUAL PEECOCITY. 

the feverish excitement attendant upon money-making, 
still it does occur of course to any one devoted to too 
much head-work, and sedentary habits. Thus the univer- 
sity student, the literary man, &c. &c, are often the vic- 
tims of this complaint. 

Unnaturally precocious intellect in children is decidedly 
bad. It is almost a certain sign, if the precocity be very 
marked, of a scrofulous constitution. At all events in the 
heads of those children, whose premature mental develop- 
ment distinguishes them from their playfellows, there is 
always considerable vascular excitement. If this vascular 
excitement be by judicious means overcome, all may yet 
go well. But if it continue to increase, it will probably 
terminate in one of these two ways, namely, either in the 
production of " water on the brain," or in the deposition of 
scrofulous tubercle in the cerebral substance. Yet how 
frequently do ignorant parents by encouraging the forward 
intellect of their offspring do all they possibly can to foster 
this excitement, and induce these fatal maladies ! 

Nor, when the brain is diseased, are the morbid effects 
necessarily confined to that organ itself. For by means of 
the nerves that pass from it to every part of the body, it 
is capable of exciting disease elsewhere in a hitherto 
healthy locality. And this is frequently the case with 
congestion of the brain. The symptoms are not merely 
those which arise from cerebral disturbance, but often such 
as are associated with disordered digestive viscera. Hence 
indications of disturbance of the liver and stomach gener- 
ally accompany those of a labouring brain. 

The only method of curing these various cerebral affec- 
tions, or other diseases depending upon a cerebral affec- 
tion, is to remove the cause of the excitement of the 
brain. For example, if a person's brain suffer from too 
close an application to business, he must at all events for 
a time suspend his business pursuits. If a child evince 
unnaturally precocious book-learning, let his books be 



AM IMPORTANT HYDROPATHIC AID. 45 

locked up, and himself sent into the fields to play. By 
no means let his fondness for reading be cultivated. When 
dyspeptic symptoms supervene upon this taxation of the 
brain, they will never be eradicated, unless that tax be 
first repealed. 

In disorders of the brain, therefore, hydropathic princi- 
ples are of invaluable service. For they always insist 
upon immunity of the brain from every source of anxiety, 
from all conceivable forms of mental excitement. Not 
even reading is encouraged, unless it be works of the 
very lightest description. A total relaxation of the brain 
is enjoined. A continuance of business pursuits is of 
course always out of the question, at all events in any 
affection of the head. 

The fifth and only remaining part, through which disease 
finds an entrance into the body, is the organs of propaga- 
tion. A very few words on this subject will suffice. It 
not unfrequently happens that much debility and malaise 
owe their origin to too strong an attachment between mar- 
ried persons. And very often indeed the same circum- 
stance prevents the recovery of either party, when labour- 
ing under any complaint, as dyspepsia, or what not. Of 
course there is but one way to cure this malaise and re- 
move this obstacle to convalescence. And it is an invaria- 
ble hydropathic rule that, whichever is the invalid, a tem- 
porary separation be enforced. This, by the way, is a 
secret which alone is capable of effecting many important 
cures. It is most essential to insist upon this disunion in all 
cases of general debility, nervousness, dyspepsia, and hy- 
pochondriasis of both the male and female sex. It is 
equally indispensable in all kinds of diseases connected with 
the womb, all hysterical affections, &c. &c. 

An immense amount of evil is incurred also by certain 
specific maladies. But although a most important subject, 
this is not the place to discuss it. 

It has now been seen that disease gains an entrance into 



46 THE FIVE GATES OF DISEASE CLOSED. 

the human system through five channels, namely, the gas- 
trointestinal canal, the air-passages, the skin, the brain, 
and the organs of propagation — that to effect a radical cure 
in any disease whatever, dietetic regimen, the inhalation of 
pure air, the maintenance in proper order of the functions 
of the skin, the abstraction of the brain from the excite- 
ment of any pursuit inducing great mental anxiety, and 
lastly, a temporary conjugal separation must be considered 
as indispensable aids And these five salutary regulations 
are immediately put in force as soon as an invalid, what- 
ever be the nature of his malady, passes the door of a 
hydropathic establishment. Is it then a matter of surprise 
that hydropathy should be capable of curing all curable 
diseases, and of relieving many that are incurable ? 

Before concluding the author begs permission to say one 
more word. It may strike the reader that some important 
baths are not mentioned in the following researches. In 
explanation the author begs to state that those only are 
not mentioned whose physiological action upon the human 
system so nearly resembles others that are mentioned, that 
their description would have been an encumbrance. Of 
this kind are the " dripping-sheet," the "can-douche," the 
" wash-down," &c. These approach very strongly in re- 
semblance as to their effects upon the body to the "shallow 
bath," upon which, it will be seen, many experiments have 
been made. 

Having now prepared the reader for certain results that 
he is to expect, the author trusts he will be more able to 
recognize and appreciate them in the researches that follow. 



CHAPTEE II. 

THE WET-SHEET PACKING. 

Before presenting to the reader the following eases, which 
for the sake of clearness and precision have been arranged 
in a tabular form, it will be necessary to make a few expla- 
natory remarks. 

The first six operations were performed on a young man 
5 feet 4 inches high, twenty years of age, and 8 stones in 
weight. His fair complexion, habitually quick pulse, hur- 
ried respiration and other circumstances, stamped him with 
the sanguine or excitable constitution. 

The three last operations were undertaken by a man of 
a totally opposite character. He was twenty-eight years 
old, weighed ten stones and a half, stood five feet ten 
inches, and was a perfect example of the bilious or phleg- 
matic diathesis. Two men of such opposite temperaments 
were well-adapted to counterbalance each other. 

As in the following operations it would be impossible to 
examine the pulse at the wrist after the commencement of 
the process of packing, the temporal artery was substituted, 
which for the information of the non-medical reader, it 
may be well to mention, is an arterial blood-vessel beating 
in the temple, and precisely analagous in every respect to 
the one beating in the arm. 

The number of respirations (consisting of inspiration and 
expiration) were counted sometimes by listening to an audi- 
ble murmur in the breathing, and sometimes by feeling 
with the hand the rising and falling of the chest. 

The expression "immediately after " means immediately 
after the first envelopement of the body by the wet-sheet, 
and not after the termination of the process of packing. 



48 EXPERIMENT ON THE WET-SHEET. 

So with regard to the ensuing expressions " ten minutes 
after," &c. 

By " In shallow bath" it is to be understood that the 
bather has been removed from the wet-sheet, and placed 
in a shallow-bath containing fifteen gallons of water, in 
which latter he has been rubbed for one minute. 

The expression " In drying sheet " denotes that he has 
emerged from the shallow-bath, and been enveloped in the 
dry sheet, in which also now he has been rubbed one 
minute. 

The temperature of the sheet was ascertained by enclos- 
ing therein a thermometer, cautiously preventing contact 
with the skin. 

The operations were all conducted in the forenoon, com- 
mencing at Nine o'clock. 



FIRST SERIES OF OPERATIONS PERFORMED ON AN 
EXCITABLE TEMPERAMENT. 

Operation I. 

Of One Hour's duration. 

Pulse Respiration 

per minute. per minute. 

Before the process 104 24 

Immediately after. 84 32 

10 minutes after... 76 28 feels warm all over. 

20 minutes after... 72 24 

30 minutes after ... 66 24 still warm, and continu- 

60 minutes after ... 60 22 ing so during the rest 

In shallow bath ... 72 24 of the operation. 

In drying-sheet ... 88 28 

Temperature of the wet-sheet, which was still wet and 
steaming, 93° F. 

Temperature of the water in the shallow-bath raised 
from 48.50° F. to 49.25° F. 



STATISTICS OF OPERATION I. 49 

St. lb. OZ. 

Weight prior to the operation 8 6 \ 

Weight subsequent to the operation ... 8 5J 



Loss loz. 

In this experiment it will be perceived, that on bringing 
the body in contact with the wet-sheet the pulse at once 
fell 20 beats in the minute, nearly \ of its whole number 
of pulsations. It then for the space of one hour, that is 
the whole period of the envelopement, continued gradually 
sinking till it counted only 60 strokes, being rather more 
than § less rapid than it was before the process. 

By adding together the numbers 84, 76, 72, 66 and 60, 
and dividing the whole by 5, viz., the number of times the 
pulse was felt, an average rapidity of pulse per minute for 
the whole period of the packing may be obtained. But it 
will not be a correct one, since at the end of forty, and of 
50 minutes, the state of the pulse was not ascertained, 
in the first place, because to do so would have required 
more time than the author's manifold engagements would 
have permitted him to devote to the experiment, and in the 
second place because it was not absolutely necessary, since 
the same accurate precision can be and is obtained by a 
mode of calculation which he will lay before the reader. 
If we consider, as we fairly may, that at those two periods 
the pulsations were respectively 64 and 62, (the foregoing 
being 66 and the following 60) and then add them to the 
five above-mentioned figures, and divide the total by seven, 
we shall obtain the result 69.14. This may be regarded as 
a fair estimate of the average rapidity of the pulse during 
this operation, while lying in the wet-sheet. The only 
method of acquiring perfect accuracy would be to have the 
finger on the pulse the whole time. 

By the application of the wet-sheet therefore the pulse 
subsided from 104 to 69.14 per minute, being a fall of no 
less than 34.86 beats. 



50 STATISTICS OF OPERATION T. 

In the shallow-bath after one minute it had risen 12 
beats, and after one minute's rubbing in the sheet 16 beats 
more, reaching then 88, but being still 16 degrees under 
the original number. 

With regard to the function of respiration precisely the 
opposite effects occurred. Before the process was com- 
menced the man breathed 24 times in a minute. Imme- 
diately on the application of the wet-sheet, when the pulse 
fell \ the respiration rose J! becoming 32 instead of 24. 
It now however began to sink, and continued to do so till 
the end of the process. But even then, when the pulse 
had fallen more than f , the respiration had decreased only 
by 5 2 ? , being 22 instead of 24. If now the figures 32, 28, 
24, 24, and 22, with the insertion of 23 twice (as the esti- 
mated number of respirations that belong to the respective 
periods of 40, and 50 minutes after the commencement of 
the process, omitted as mentioned in reference to the 
pulse) being the intermediate number between 24 prece- 
ding, and the 22 following, be added together, we shall 
arrive at the number 176. Divide this by seven, and the 
average amount of respirations per minute of the whole 
hour during which the packing lasted, will be the result. 
And 176 -7-7=25.14, indicating an actual elevation in the 
rapidity of respiration of 1.14 per minute. 

While therefore there was a decrease in the beats of the 
pulse per minute of 34.86, there was an increase in the 
beats of the lungs, if such an expression may be employed, 
of 1.14. Now before the commencement of the packing 
the pulse had been 104, and the respiration 24. These 
figures then may be taken as expressing the due relation 
between the lungs and the heart. But as 104 : 24 :: 69.14 : 
1 5.95. So that the pulse having subsided from 104 to 69. 14, 
so also cceteris paribus ought the respiration to have fallen 
from 24 to 15.95, whereas on the contrary as the pulse 
fell below the standard, the respiration rose above it. 
Quod erat demonstrandum. Vide introductory chapter, 
and analysis of the wet-sheet operations. 



WET-SHEET PACKING. OPERATION II. 51 

In the shallow bath, and after five minutes' rubbing in 
the dry sheet the respiration rose at the same time as the 
circulation or pulse. 

Operation II, 

Of one hours duration. 

Pulse, Kespiration, 

per minute. per minute. 

Before process 100 24 

Immediately after. 72 36 

10 minutes after ... 72 28 feels warm and com- 

20 minutes after ... 69 27 fortable, and con- 

30 minutes after ... 64 1 8.5 tinues so during the 

60 minutes after .. . 60 19 operation. 

In shallow-bath ... 64 24 

In drying-sheet ... 72 28 

Temperature of the wet-sheet, still wet and steaming, 
91° F. 

Temperature of the water of the shallow bath raised 
from 52° F. to 52.75° F. 

st. lb. oz. 
Weight prior to the operation 8 Of 

Weight subsequent to the operation ... 8 



Loss foz. 

Between this operation and the preceding one in their 
main features there is the most striking resemblance. 

In the first place in reference to the pulse there is the 
same sudden subsidence on the first application of the wet- 
sheet — the same subsequent gradual depression for the 
the whole hour, — and the same reaction in the shallow-bath, 
and drying-sheet, but less marked than in the first opera- 
tion. But there is another and truly remarkable similarity. 
If we look for the average number of beats of the pulse 
during the entire period of envelopement as in the last expe- 



52 STATISTICS OF OPERATION II. 

riment (viz., by adding the figures 62 twice to the numbers 
72, 72, 69, 64 and 60, and dividing the sum by 7) we shall 
obtain 65.85 as the result. Now before the commencement 
of the process the pulse had been 100. This indicates 
a fall therefore of 34.15 per minute, for 100—65.85=34.15. 
In the preceding operation the corresponding fall was 34.86, 
the difference being merely a fraction. 

As regards the respiration too, there is a general corres- 
pondence between the first and second operation, but less 
perfect. 

The average number of respirations per minute for the 
whole hour is to be acquired in the same way as before, 
employing the figures 18.75 twice for the inserted amounts. 
It will be found to be 23.71, being a decrease from the 
original number by 00.29. In this case therefore, while the 
pulse sunk 34.15 beats in the minute, the respiration 
instead of falling in a corresponding ratio remained as 
nearly as possible stationary. 

If the respiratory process had fallen in a corresponding 
ratio to the circulatory one, its average frequency during 
the packing would be about 15.80, for as 100 : 24 : : 65.85 : 
15.80. Instead of which it was 23.71, that is 7.91 degrees 
more elevated than the latter, and indicating a fall from the 
original amount of only twenty-nine hundredths. And 
this may virtually be considered as an increase in the 
rapidity of the respiration. Quod erat demonstran- 
dum. Vide Introductory Chapter, and the Analysis of the 
wet-sheet operations. 



WET-SHEET PACKING. OPERATION III. 53 

Operation III, 
Of one hour and ten minutes duration. 

Pulse, Respiration, 

per minute. per minute. 

Before process 100 24 

Immediately after. 80 32 

10 minutes after... 66 23.5 feels warm and 

20 minutes after... 66 20 moist, and remains so 

30 minutes after ... 62 23 throughout, becom- 

60 minutes after ... 58 18 ing towards the end 

70 minutes after ... 58 18 quite hot. 

In shallow-bath ... 96 26 

In drying-sheet ... 77 21 

Temperature of the wet-sheet 93° F. 
Temperature of the water in the shallow bath raised 
from 48° F. to 49.33° F. 

st. lb. oz. 

Weight prior to the operation 8 10^ 

Weight subsequent to the operation... 8 9 

Loss... 1| 

On adding together the figures 80, 66, 66, 62, 58 and 58, 
with the insertion of 60 twice to indicate the state of the 
pulse at the expiration of 40 and 50 minutes, and dividing 
the answer by 8, an average of 63.75 beats of the pulse 
per minute will be obtained. This shews a diminution of 
36.25 beats, the original pulse having been 100, and 
100—36.25=63.75. 

If the figures placed under the respiration be treated in 
the same way, inserting the number 20.5 twice, as repre- 
senting the middle quantity between 18 and 23, we shall 
get as the result 21.93. 

Here also is seen a decline in speed from the original 
state of the respiration, the declension being in amount 
2.07, for 24—2.07=21.93. 



54 WET-SHEET PACKING. OPEKATION IV, 

As the pulse was 100 before the commencement of the 
process, and the respiration 24, we may look upon those 
figures as representing the (in ordinary circumstances) just 
balance between the heart and lungs. But 24 : 100 : : 
15.3 : 63.75. Wherefore the pulse having sunk to 63.75 
the corresponding number of respirations would be 15.3. 
While however the former fell 36.25 in the minute, the 
latter fell only 2.07. And under the circumstances this 
may be considered vitually an elevation of the respiration, 
through the immense subsidence of the pulse. 

Operation IV, 

Of one hour and a half's duration. 

Pulse, Respiration, 

per minute. per minute. 

Before process...... 104 18 

Immediately after. 82 « 40 

10 minutes after... 72 23 feels warm. 

20 minutes after... 70 24 feels quite hot, but 

30 minutes after... 64 22 moist. There is no 

60 minutes after... 63 19 perspiration on the 

90 minutes after... 60 19 forehead. 

In shallow bath ... 74 26 

In drying-sheet ... 84 26 

Temperature of the wet-sheet 93° F. 
Temperature of the water in the shallow-bath raised 
from 49.25 c F. to 50.00° F. 

st. lb. oz. 

Weight prior to the operation 8 7 J 

Weight subsequent to the operation 8 6 

Loss... 1J 

The results of this operation as far as the pulse is con- 
cerned exhibit a general similarity to the three preceding 
ones, but in reference to the respiration more particularly 
resembles the first. For while there is an enormous fall in 
the pulsations of the artery, in those of the lungs there is 



WET-SHEET PACKING. OPERATION V. 55 

an actual increase. The average beats of the former, 
(found by adding up the numbers 82, 72, 70, 64, 63 and 
60, and supplying the four extra ones 63.5,63.5,62 and 61, 
as before explained, and dividing the whole by the number 
of times, apparent and real, that the pulse was examined, 
viz. 10) will be ascertained to be 66.1 each minute of the 
hour and a half. Here is manifest a fall of 37.9 beats per 
minute, for 104—66.1=37.9. 

The average amount of respirations per minute for the 
whole period of an hour and a half (discovered by adding 
the supplied numbers 21, 20, 19, 19, to those shewn in the 
above table, viz., 40, 23, 24, 22, 19, 19, and dividing the 
answer by 10) will be found to be 22.6, and consequently 
will betoken an elevation of 4.6, for 18+4.6=22.6. 

Operation V. 

Of one hour and forty minutes' duration. 

Pulse, Respiration, 
per minute. per minute. 

Before process 92 22 

Immediately after. 64 32 

1r . • , r., nA 01 ("feels quite comforta- 

10 minutes after... 64 24<, n Q ^ , ,, 

^ble & no longer cold. 

20 minutes after... 71 24 feels quite warm. 

30 minutes after... 64 22 

60 minutes after. . . 62.5 22 

1 h. and 40m. after 53 22 

In shallow-bath ... 84 21 

In drying-sheet ... 84 29 

Temperature of the wet-sheet 90° F. 
Temperature of the water in the shallow-bath raised 
from 53° F. to 54° F. 

st. lb. oz. 
Weight prior to the operation 8 4 1 

Weight subsequent to the operation 8 2| 

Loss... 2 J 



56 STATISTICS OF OPERATION V. 

In this operation there occurs a strange anomaly. There 
is an abrupt elevation of pulse which takes place at the 
elapse of 20 minutes, and curiously interrupts the ordinary 
gradual depression of its rapidity. After the pulse had 
sunk from 92 to 64, and remained at the latter point sta- 
tionary for some time, it in a remarkable manner, and for 
some reason which the author cannot explain with certainty, 
rises to 71. It does not however continue to rise, but 
quickly subsides again, eventually to fall considerably 
lower than is usually the case. 

It not unlikely that the individual packed made some 
little bodily effort, perhaps in the endeavour to liberate a 
cramped arm, in the exertion of coughing, or some such 
trivial muscular exertion. Most probably the abrupt ele- 
vation of pulse was attributable to some petty casualty of 
this description. 

The average rapidity of the pulse during the hour and 
forty minutes is to be calculated by adding together the 
figures 64, 64, 71, 64, 62.5, and 53, with the superaddi- 
tion of the numbers 63.25, 63.25, 60.11, 57.74, 55.37 to 
supply the omissions (as already explained), and dividing 
the whole by 11. It will be found to be 61.66, indicating 
a fall of 30.34 from the original state of the pulse before 
the bath, for 61.66+30.34=92.00. 

In case it may be imagined that the employment of so 
many supposititious figures falsify the experiments or their 
inferences in any manner, the author begs to observe that 
their omission entirely would only slightly alter the results, 
and that he calls in their aid to impart to the operations as 
much mathematical precision as possible. In the example 
before us, were no supplementary figures employed, the 
average pulse (calculated simply by adding together the 
figures 64, 64, 71, 64, 62.5, and 58, and dividing the sum 
by 6), would be seen to be 63.08, exhibiting a difference 
only of 1.42, and not so truly correct as the first estimate, 
viz., 61.66. Of course the same remark applies to the 
calculations regarding the respiration. 



WET-SHEET PACKING. OPERATION VI. 57 

The average number of respirations per minute for the 
whole time, investigated in the same way (viz., by adding 
to the figures 32, 24, and 24, for every subsequent ten 
minutes 22, that is 3 times, and dividing by 11), will be 
ascertained to be 23.27. The original numbers being 
before the process 22, there is here manifested a rise 
of 1.27. 

Operation VI. 

Of two hours and a half's duration. 

Pulse, Respiration, 

per minute. per minute. 

Before process 96 19 

Immediately after. 84 82 

10 minutes after ... 70 22 becoming warm and 

20 minutes after ... 72 22 comfortable. 

30 minutes after ... 72 21 

1 hour after 64 21 

2 hours after 64 24 Forehead still dry. 

2 hours and 30 m. 64 27 Nowhere sweating. 

In shallow-bath ... 76 24 

In drying sheet ... 76 25 

Temperature of the wet-sheet 95° F. 
Temperature of the water in the shallow-bath raised 
from 60.75° F. to 61.75° F. 

st. lb. oz. 
Weight prior to the operation 8 1 7f 

Weight subsequent to the operation ... 8 1 5J 



Loss... gj 

In this operation the subsidiary figures will be found 
to be 69.34, 66.67, for the interval between 30 minutes and 
1 hour, 64, four times repeated for the interval between 1 
and 2 hours, and the same number, once repeated, for the 
interval between two hours, and 2 hours and a half. By 
adding these nine numbers to those in the above column 
that stand between 96 and 76, and dividing the result by 16, 



58 WET- SHEET PACKING. OPERATION VII, 

the average rapidity of the pulse during the whole process 
will be found to be 67.12. These subsidiary figures may 
make the calculations a little complicated, but cannot be 
discarded, since they impart great accuracy to the experi- 
ments. In the present instance without their employment 
the results would be materially altered. The pulse would 
be estimated to beat 70 times in the minute instead of 
67.12. The latter number indicates a fall from the origi- 
nal state of the pulse of 28.88 for 96— 28.88=67.12. 

The average quickness of the respiration is to be ascer- 
tained by employing the supplementary figures 21, 21, 
21.5, 22, 22.5, 23, 23.5, 25, and 26, and adding to these 
numbers 32, 22, 22, 21, 21, 24, 27, as they occur in the 
above column, and dividing the whole by 16. The repre- 
sentative number will be 23.4, expressing an elevation 
from the original rate of speed of 4.4 for 19+4.4=23.4. 



SECOND SERIES OF OPERATIONS, PERFORMED ON A 
PHLEGMATIC TEMPERAMENT. 

Operation VII. 

Of four hours' duration. 

Pulse, Respiration, 

per minute. per minute. 

Before process 72 17 

Immediately after. 52 18 

10 minutes after... 54 25 getting slowly warm 

20 minutes after ... 52 22 

30 minutes after ... 48 18 moderately warm, 

1 hour after 44 18 never hot. 

2 hours after 42 ...... 18.5 

3 hours after 42 18 

4 hours after 46 26 

In shallow-bath ... 72 26 

In drying-sheet ... 72 24 

Temperature of the wet sheet 95° F. 



STATISTICS OF OPERATION VII. 59 

Weight prior to the operation ..... 10 7 10 

Weight subsequent to the operation 10 7 6f 



Loss... S\ 

As before mentioned, it will be perceived from the 
weight of the person who underwent this operation that it 
was a different individual. The first one was of a sanguine, 
excitable temperament, the disposition of the latter de- 
cidedly phlegmatic. It is important that the reader should 
retain this distinction in his recollection. 

It may be as well here to caution the reader against so 
much as dreaming of continuing the action of the wet 
sheet for so long a period as described in these examples. 
In some cases, and without constant attention, it might be 
attended with considerable risk. The chief object even 
in the instance before us of prolonging the operations to so 
many hours was to contrast their effects with those of the 
sweating blankets, and to prove that they are not, as is 
generally supposed, of a diaphoretic character, however 
long they may be endured. 

The average speed of the pulse during the four hours 
may be satisfactorily obtained by adding together and di- 
viding by 25 the following figures, 52, 54, 52, 48, 46.66, 
45.33 (the latter two numbers for the periods of 40 and 
50 minutes after the commencement) 44, 43.65, 43.32, 
42.99, 42.66, 42.33, (the latter five numbers respectively 
for each ten minutes between the one and two hours) 42, 
42, 42, 42, 42, 42, (the latter five numbers respectively for 
each ten minutes between the two and three hours) 42, 
42.67, 43.34, 44.01, 44.68, 45.35, (the latter five between 
the three and four hours) and 46. The result of this sum 
is 44.68. Here therefore is shewn a decrease of 27.32 
beats in the minute, for 72—27.32=44.68. 

Once more the author feels it incumbent upon him to 
apologise to the reader for this horrible accumulation of 



60 STATISTICS OF OPERATION VII. 

dry figures. It is to the kindly disposed reader alone that 
this apology is made. But there are other readers of a 
severer class, who listen incredulous to a man's story, till 
fact and proof are produced. And it is to establish con- 
viction in the minds of this critical sort that the author 
has recourse to so many figures. He hopes that the for- 
mer benevolent and non-sceptical reader will at once pass 
over them, when they stand in his way, and prove unin- 
teresting. 

The respiration on the other hand will be found to pre- 
sent an increased ratio of speed by the application of the 
wet-sheet, for on adding together the figures 18, 25, 22, 
18, 18, 18, (the latter two numbers answering to the 
periods of forty and fifty minutes) 18, 18.08, 18.16, 18.24, 
18.32, 18.40, (the latter five answering respectively to each 
ten minutes between one and two hours) 18.50, 18.40, 
18.32, 18.24, 18.16, 18.08, (the latter five being the five 
previously mentioned numbers reversed, and answering to 
the interval of two and three hours) 18, 19.33, 20.66, 
21.99, 23.32, 24.65, (the latter five corresponding to the 
interval between the three and four hours) and 26, and 
then dividing the whole by 25, the product will be 19.67, 
and the index of the average rapidity of the respiratory 
movements during the whole time of lying in the sheet. 
Thus there will be discovered a rise of 2.67 in the minute, 
since 17+2.67=19.67. 

In reference therefore to the relation between the 
breathing and the pulse, that is, between the undulatory 
movements of the chest and the pulsations of the arterial 
system, the same principle that was so constant in the first 
six operations, is still preserved, (although the individual 
treated is different, and of a totally different constitution,) 
that is to say, the depressing effect on the pulse, and the 
elevating effect on the respiration. 



WET- SHEET PACKING. OPERATION VIII. 61 

Operation VIII, 

Of four hours' duration, 

Pulse, Respiration, 
per minute. per minute. 

Before the process. 72 20 

Immediately after.. 54 20 after the first few 

10 minutes after ... 52 24 minutes he describes 

20 minutes after .. . 47 25 himself as very com - 

30 minutes after ... 45 22 fortable, but neither 

1 hour after 42 .... 31 warm nor cold, du- 

2 hours after 42 22 ring the whole pro- 

3 hours after 43 26 cess. 

4 hours after 44 26 

In shallow bath.... 60 26 

In drying sheet 60 26 

Temperature of the wet-sheet 93° F. 

st. lb. oz. 

Weight prior to the operation 10 6 8 J 

Weight subsequent to the process 10 6 6 J 



Loss If 

The average rate of the pulse per minute during the four 
hours is calculated by adding together and dividing by 25 
the following figures, 54, 52, 47, 45, 44, 43, (the latter 
two subsidiary as before explained in the preceding opera- 
tion) 42, 42, 42, 42, 42, 42, (the latter five numbers sub- 
sidiary) 42, 42.17, 42.34, 42.51, 42.68, 42.85, (the latter 
five subsidiary) 43, 43.17, 43.34, 43.51, 43.68, 43.85, (the 
latter five subsidiary) and 44. The result of this calcula- 
tion will be 43.84, indicating a fall from the original state 
of the pulse before the process of 28.16, for 72 — 28.16= 
43.84. 

The average rapidity of the respiration is calculated by 
adding together and dividing by 25 the following figures, 
20, 24, 25, 22, 25, 28, (the latter two numbers being sub- 
sidiary) 31, 29.5, 28, 26.5, 25, 23.5, (the latter five subsi- 



62 WET-SHEET PACKING. OPERATION IX. 

diary) 22, 22.67, 23.34, 24.01, 24.68, 25.35, (the latter five 
subsidiary) 26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26, (the latter five subsidiary) 
26. The result will be seen to be 25.26, exhibiting a rise 
of no less than 5.26, for 20 + 5.26 = 25.26, and that too 
while the pulse sinks 28 beats ! 

Operation IX, 

Of four hours 1 duration. 
Pulse, Respiration, 

per minnte. per minute. 

Before the process. 60 24 

Immediately after . 56 25 experiences what he 

10 minutes after... 48 20 calls a comfortable, 

20 minutes after ... 46 25 soothing, and pleas- 

30 minutes after... 44 21 ing effect, but is not 

1 hour after 42 19 decidedly warm. 

2 hours after 40 20 

3 hours after 40 19.5 

4 hours after 44 20 

In shallow bath .... 56 28 

In drying sheet.... 72 28 

Temperature of the wet-sheet 92° F. 
Temperature of the water in the shallow bath raised 
from 47.5° F. to 49° F. 

st. lb. oz. 

Weight prior to the process 10 6 0J 

Weight subsequent to the process 10 6 



Loss. 



By adding together and dividing by 25 the following 
figures 56, 48, 46, 44, 43, 43 (the last two subsidiary) 
42, 41, 41, 41, 41, 41 (the last five subsidiary) 40, 40, 40, 
40, 40, 40 (the last five subsidiary) 40,40.66, 41.32/41.98, 
42.64, 43.30 (the last five subsidiary) and 44, the numbers 
42.43 will be obtained. These denote the average rate of 
speed with which the pulse moves per minute during the 
process, and indicate a fall from the original rapidity before 



ANALYSIS OF THE WET-SHEET OPERATIONS. l33 

the commencement of the operation of 17.57 beats, for 
60 — 17.57=42.43. This is the slightest diminution that 
has yet been observed, and for a good reason, as will be 
afterwards explained. (Vide the analysis of the wet-sheet 
operations.) 

With regard to the respiration also there is the same 
singularity attached to the operation now nnder examina- 
tion. It will be found on instituting the usual investiga- 
tion that the breathing subsides in rapidity on the average 
during the whole process nearly four degrees in the minute. 
For on adding together and dividing by 25 the following 
numbers, 25, 20, 25,21, 20, 20, (the two last subsidiary) 
19, 19.17, 19.34. 19.51, 19.68, 19.85, (the last five sub- 
sidiary) 20, 19.90, 19.82, 19.74, 19.66, 19.58, (the last five 
subsidiary) 19.50, 19.58, 19.66, 19.74, 19.82, 19.90, (the 
last five subsidiary) 20, the dividend will be 20.17. This 
shews a decrease in the respiratory movements of 3.83 
per minute, for 24—3.83=20.17. 

Analysis of the Wet-Sheet Operations. 
The commencement of the first analysis in the work will 
afford a fit opportunity for the author's requesting parti- 
cularly the general reader's attention to the matter con- 
tained in them all. They will be a summary of the results 
of all the preceding experiments, taking also a compara- 
tive view and review of the whole. While the accuracy 
of the details of the operations is intended to captivate 
the attention of the purely scientific and critical eye, the 
final analytical review and to a certain extent recapitula- 
tion is more adapted to the perusal of everybody else. 
Let us now at once commence with the analysis of the 
wet-sheet operations. 

In the first place let the author draw the attention of 
the reader to the fact of the two persons submitted to the 
wet-sheet packings being well marked specimens of antago- 
nistic temperaments. The natural disposition of the first 



64 ANALYSIS OF THE WET-SHEET OPERATIONS. 

one was excitable, nervous, sanguine, both mentally and 
physically. That of the second was just the very contrary, 
essentially phlegmatic as a Dutchman. All temperaments 
whatsosver may be and are resolvable into one or other of 
these two, or into compounds of both containing various 
proportions of each. In truth there are but two of what 
may be called pure temperaments, and they are those just 
mentioned. All others, as bilious, leuco-phlegmatic, &c. 
&c. are but modified forms of the same. Averages, there- 
fore, deduced from these two opposing and extreme forms 
of constitutional temperament will probably serve in as 
correct a manner as possible to illustrate the effects of hy- 
dropathic measures upon the general mass of individuals. 
For of course the mean of two extremes must be a moderate 
ratio. So here a medium drawn from the effects of certain 
measures on a very excitable and on a very phlegmatic dis- 
position must be the same as the effects of the same mea- 
sures upon persons neither so excitable nor so phlegmatic. 

In the first six operations the pulse at the commence- 
ment of the process will be found to be, beginning with 
the first, as follows, 104, 100, 100, 104, 92, 96. This will 
yield an average of 99.33. The great elevation above the 
normal rapidity here shewn is one circumstance, whence is 
deduced the peculiar temperament of this individual. In 
the same operations, the pulse, immediately after the body 
was enveloped in the sheet, was respectively 84, 72, 80, 
82, 64, 84. The medium number of these six is 77.66. 
And 99.33— 77.66=21.67. Thus then in the time that it 
takes for a man to lie down, and have the two ends of a 
sheet lapped over his body, in one minute, sometimes in 
less than one minute, is the pulse fallen nearly twenty- two 
beats in the minute ! In less than one minute twenty-two 
beats ! Was not this, before the discovery of the wet- 
sheet, inconceivable ? 

In the seventh, eighth, and ninth operations, namely, 
those performed by the individual of the phlegmatic dia- 



EFFECT OF THE WET-SHEET UPON THE PULSE. 65 

thesis, the numbers indicating the rate of speed of his 
pulse before the processes were these, 72, 72, 60; observe 
the forcible contrast here exhibited between the present 
and the preceding example, and occasioned by the differ- 
ence in temperament. The medium amount of these then is 
68, more than thirty degrees lower than the foregoing, 
which was 99.33. The numbers denoting the pulse imme- 
diately following the wet-sheet wrapping were respectively 
5'^, 54, 56. The average here is of course the middle 
figure 54. And 68 — 54=14. 

This subsidence of fourteen pulsations in the minute is 
every whit as remarkable as the previous fall of twenty- 
two. For what has been before stated about the difference 
of their temperaments must now be taken into considera- 
tion. A man of cold, phlegmatic constitution is always 
less susceptible to external influences than one of the con- 
trary disposition. Therefore it would be imagined a priori, 
that the wet-sheet would produce less marked arterial de- 
pression in the latter three cases than in the six former. 
Besides which the pulses being so most dissimilar in rapi- 
dity at the commencement of the process, the average 
being in the one case 99, and in the other 68, the former 
could afford, so to speak, to lose much more speed than the 
latter. 

If now we draw an average from the two cases unitedly 
by adding 99.33 to 68, and dividing the quotient by two, 
we shall obtain as a result 83.66. And by doing the same 
thing with regard to the pulse immediately after the en- 
velopement we shall get the figures 65.83. And 8S.66 — 
65. 83=:17. 83. This, therefore, a result gained by the com- 
parison of two perfectly opposite natures, may be fairly 
stated to be the average amount of diminution of the pulse 
by the first application of the wet-sheet. 

The average rapidity of the pulse for the whole duration 
of the process was in the first case 69.14, in the second 
65.85, in the third 63.75, in the fourth 66.10, in the fifth 



6() EfcTECT OF THE WET-SHEET UPON THE PULSE. 

61.66, in the sixth 67.12, in the seventh 44.68, in the 
eighth 43.84, in the ninth 42.43. The constancy and con- 
sistency of these results are perfectly astonishing. The 
resemblance lies, as of course it should, among the first 
six between each other, and among the three last between 
each other. Combining the two divisions and estimating 
a general average from the whole number, we shall find 
such average to be 58.28. This shews a farther reduction 
below that induced immediately by the application of the 
cold sheet, of 7.55, for 65.83—7.55=58.28. 

From these statistics it may be very properly inferred 
that as a general rule the pulse usually falls about seventeen 
beats in the minute on the first application of the wet-sheet, 
and subsides during the process seven or eight degrees more 
— provided the pulse before the operation be in the state in 
which it ought to be after moderate exercise, to wit, number- 
ing about eighty-two or three — moreover, that when the 
pulse preceding the process is much more rapid than this, a 
much greater depression occurs, and when on the other hand 
it is less rapid than this before the process, the diminution is 
less marked. 

Hence it appears of what extreme efficacy this opera- 
tion may be in the treatment of febrile diseases. When a 
person labours under the following symptoms, namely, an 
accelerated pulse, a hot and dry skin, a furred tongue, loss 
of appetite, troublesome thirst, &c. &c, he is said to be 
the subject of fever or feverishness. This febrile excite- 
ment may be in the shape of a specific fever, as typhous 
or common continued fever, ague in its hot stage, small- 
pox, or measles, or it may be merely the general disturb- 
ance of the system associated with some local inflamma- 
tion, as pleurisy, inflammation of the bowels, &c. And 
this state of the system, however modified by casual cir- 
cumstances, as contagion, inflammation, or anything else, 
is commonly recognised as fever or a febrile paroxysm ; but 
in truth it is only one stage of the complaint. It is the 



THE THREE STAGES OF FEVEK. 67 

hot stage, but it is preceded by a cold one, and followed 
by a sweating one. 

The cold stage is characterized by a pallor and shrinking 
of the skin, and a feeling of chilliness. The sweating 
period bedews the tense and dry skin with moisture, 
reduces its heightened temperature, and restores the hither- 
to exalted pulse to its natural standard. These then are 
the stages of lever of all kinds, whether hectic, exanthe- 
matous, typhous, inflammatory, or any other. At the 
onset of the malady the blood is driven from the skin to the 
internal organs, the heart, liver, lungs, and large vessels, 
thus clearly accounting for the symptoms developed at the 
first period, namely, the feeling of coldness, the sensation 
of a stream of water trickling down the spine, the bristling 
of the hair, the knocking of the knees, and chattering of 
the teeth, and the general pallor and contraction of the 
whole surface. After a time the struggling heart and large 
vessels emanating from it by gigantic efforts try to relieve 
themselves of their superabundant contents, and with suc- 
cess. They manage to pump the blood, with which they 
have been during the cold fit surcharged, back into the 
superficial and cutaneous capillaries. And now the reac- 
tion occurs. The blood urged onward by the full force of 
the central circulating powers, rushes with violence into 
the tissues of the skin, and coursing tumultuously through 
their minute vascular channels over the whole surface of 
the body, creates the greatest excitement. Chilliness and 
shivering give place to flushes of heat, which grow more 
and more intense, and more prolonged. The cold, con- 
tracted skin inflames and burns. The arteries leap and 
throb. The tongue becomes dry and the throat parched, 
and the second or hot stage is fairly established. After 
this period has endured a certain time, the turgid vessels of 
the skin seek and obtain relief by the opening of their 
natural locks, the perspiring apparatus. These gates un- 
close, and a copious discharge of sweat is followed by instant 



68 THE TREATMENT OF FEVER BY 

relief. The hot and thirsty tongue is cooled and moisten- 
ed. The fiery flush of the skin is quenched. The noisy, 
and painful beating of the arteries is stilled. The pulse 
keeps more moderate time, and the whole system is soothed 
and quieted. . 

This is the natural termination of an attack or par- 
oxysm of fever. The whole paroxysm may last but a few 
hours, as is the case in quotidian ague, or it may last seve- 
ral weeks, as frequently happens with common contagious 
fever. But in whatever garb the disease may be clothed, 
it always follows this course. This succession of symp- 
toms constitutes the essence and sine qua non of fever. 

The next matter to be enquired into is, as to the objects 
to be aimed at in the artificial treatment of the disease. 
Now in attempting to combat a disorder by the employ- 
ment of any artificial remedy, we should always closely 
inspect nature, to see what means she brings to bear upon 
the complaint when left to her own management. In the 
present instance, viz. that of fever, we see that she abates the 
inflammatory tumult by cooling the skin, this being effec- 
ted by perspiration. But how does the perspiration cool the 
skin ? By evaporation from its surface, a large quantity of 
specific or sensible heat being by that process rendered 
latent or insensible. So that nature herself gives the 
fevered patients a cold bath, producing the water from her 
own engorged capillaries. 

Medical practice following correctly the dictates of 
nature prescribes various simple sudorific medicines to 
effect this desirable end. To generate perspiration, in 
other words to supply a cold bath, she has recourse to a 
little antimony, a little ipecacuanha, a little acetate of 
ammonia, and so on. Sometimes these mild remedies pro- 
duce a slight effect, more frequently none whatever. The 
theory and principal of action, and intention too are excel- 
lent enough, but how insufficient the practice all the 
world knows. Indeed so futile are all medicines in simple 



NATURE, MEDICINE, AND COLD WATER. 69 

fever, and when effective so harmful their effect, that it is 
pretty generally considered by medical men that the less 
they interfere with a patient suffering from fever, the more 
likely is he to weather the point of danger. Now see 
what hydropathy can do. 

She also like her neighbour physic watches the in- 
structions of nature with a jealous eye. She too like her 
co-temporary observes the method to which nature has 
recourse to cool the patient. She is delighted to see the 
cold bath, in which the patient bathes with such happy and 
refreshing results. When therefore such a malady is pre- 
sented to her scrutiny, and its cure entrusted to her treat- 
ment, she strives at once to imitate her guide ; but how ? 
Simply by the employment of an artificial cold bath. And 
the best form of cold bath that can be employed in these 
febrile affections is the wet-sheet packing. On account of 
its excellent effect in soothing pain, allaying irritation, and 
exercising a general tranquilizing power it is more adapted 
for this object than any other kind of bath. 

But this remedy should always be used in the middle or 
hot stage, if possible. It must never be employed in the 
cold one, and rarely, if ever, in the sweating one, cer- 
tainly never if the perspiration be at all profuse, or if it 
has been going on for some time. The reason of its pro- 
hibition in the first stage of fever must be obvious to every 
one; and perspiration being itself a powerful cooling 
agent of course, when fully established, requires no aid 
from without. 

If what is called common continued fever, or typhus, 
be submitted to a close scrutiny, it will be be found gene- 
rally the subject of distinct remissions and exacerbations. 
It is in fact nearly always increased in severity towards night, 
and alleviated in the morning. A more distressing thrist, 
greater restlessness, and an increased amount of general 
febrile excitement denote with sufficient clearness the ex- 
acerbation, while an abatement of these symptoms point 



70 THE BEST HYDROPATHIC FEBRIFUGE. 

out the remission. When an obvious paroxysm such as this 
can be discovered, it should always be chosen as the fit 
time for the administration of the wet-sheet packing. But 
whenever there is a sense of chilliness present, or the skin 
is not hot and dry, or there is any considerable perspira- 
tion, then the cold application must be postponed to a 
more fitting opportunity. 

The employment of the wet-packing is followed by a 
beneficial and grateful perspiration, which is quickly suc- 
ceeded in turn by calm and refreshing slumber. 

It is universally admitted by the first authorities, that 
the best form for administering cold water treatment in 
fevers is the wet-sheet packing. But the author is going to 
introduce some cases (to shew the value of the wet-sheet 
in these diseases) that were not treated by the wet sheet. 
This may appear inconsistent, but it will answer the end he 
has in view. The cases were treated with cold affusion, but 
it was before the wet-sheet was known. However suc- 
cessful the results therefore, it is to be fairly presumed they 
would have been at least as successful, if not more so, had 
the more efficient antiphlogistic remedy the wet-sheet been 
substituted for the cold affusion, for the reasons above 
mentioned. Why the author does in preference choose to 
illustrate his observations by cases not treated with the wet- 
sheet is this. He wishes for obvious reasons to quote 
from a non-hydropathic author, especially as he has an 
opportunity of doing so from so eminent a physician as 
Dr. James Currie, of Liverpool ; from that gentleman's 
Medical Reports the following narrative is extracted. 

"In a dark, narrow, and unventilated cell off the guard- 
room, it was usual to confine such men as were sent to the 
guard for misbehaviour, and about the 20th of May, 1792, 
several men had been shut up in this place on account of 
drunkenness, and suffered to remain there twenty-four 
hours, under the debility that succeeds intoxication. The 
typhous or gaol fever made its appearance in two of these 



CASES OF FEVER TREATED BY COLD WATER. 71 

men about the 1st of June, and spread with great rapidity. 
Ten of the soldiers labouring under the complaint were 
received into the Liverpool Infirmary, and the wards alot- 
ted to fever could admit no more. The contagion continu- 
ing its progress, a temporary hospital was fitted up at the 
fort, and I was requested to give my assistance there 
to a surgeon of the regiment, by Captains Brereton and 
Torriano. 

In two low rooms, each about fifteen feet square, were 
fourteen patients labouring under fever. They were in 
different stages of its progress : one was in the fourteenth 
day of the disease, two were in the twelfth, and the rest 
from the ninth to the fourth inclusive. The symptoms of 
the fever were very uniform. In every case there was 
more or less cough, with mucous expectoration : in all 
those who had sustained the disease eight days and upwards 
there were petechias on the skin : in several there were 
occasional bleedings from the nostrils, and streaks of blood 
in the expectoration. The debility was considerable from 
the first, and it had been increased in several cases by the 
use of venaesection, before the nature of the epidemic was 
understood. The pulse varied from 130 strokes in the 
minute to 100: the heat rose in one case to 106° F., but 
was in general from 10T to 103° ; and towards the latter 
stages of the disease it w r as scarcely above the temperature 
of health. Great pain in the head with stupor pervaded 
the whole, and in several instances there occurred a con- 
siderable degree of low delirium. 

Our first care was to ventilate and clean the rooms, 
which were in a high degree foul and pestilential. Our 
second was to wash and clean the patients themselves. 
This was done by pouring sea water, in the manner already 
described, over the naked bodies of those whose strength 
was not greatly reduced, and whose heat was steadily above 
the temperature of health. In those advanced in the fever, 
whose debility was of course great, we did not venture on 



72 OASES OF FEVER TREATED BY COLD WATER. 

this treatment, but contented ourselves with sponging the 
whole surface of the body with tepid vinegar, a practice 
that in every stage of fever is salutary and refreshing. 

Our next care was to stop the progress of the infection. 
With this view the guard-house was at first attempted to 
be purified by washing and ventilation, the greater part of 
its furniture having been burnt or thrown into the sea. 
All our precautions and exertions however were found to 
be ineffectual. The weather was at this time wet and ex- 
tremely cold for the season ; the men on guard could not 
be prevailed upon to remain in the open air ; and from 
passing the night in the infected guard room, several of the 
privates of the successive reliefs caught the infection, and 
fell ill on the 10th, 11th, and 12th of the month. In seve- 
ral of them the fever ran through its course ; and in others 
it was immediately arrested by the affusion of sea-water 
as already described. No means having been found effec- 
tual for the purification of the guard-room, it was shut up 
and a temporary shed erected in its stead. Still the con- 
tagion proceeded: in the morning of the loth three more 
having been added to the list of the infected. On that 
day therefore the whole of the regiment was drawn up at 
my request, and the men examined in their ranks. Seven- 
teen were found with symptoms of fever upon them. — It 
was not difficult to distinguish them as they stood by their 
fellows. Their countenances were languid, their whole 
appearance dejected, and the tunica adnata of their eyes 
had a dull red suffusion. These men were carefully 
separated from the rest of the corps, and immediately sub- 
jected to the cold affusion, always repeated once, and 
sometimes twice a day. — In fifteen of the number the con- 
tagion was extinguished ; but two went through the regu- 
lar disease. On the same day the commanding officer, at 
my desire, issued an order for the whole of the remaining 
part of the regiment to bathe in the sea ; and for some 
time they were regularly mustered and marched down at 
high water to plunge into the tide. 



CASES OF FEVER TREATED BY COLD WATER. 73 

These means were successful in arresting the epidemic ; 
after the 13th of June no person was attacked by it. It 
extended to fifty-eight persons in all, of which thirty-two 
went through the regular course of the fever, and in twenty- 
six the disease seemed to be cut short by the cold affusion. 

Of the thirty-two already mentioned two died. Both 
of these were men whose constitutions were weakened by 
the climate of the West Indies ; both of them had been 
bled in the early stages of the fever ; and one being in the 
twelfth, the other in the fourteenth day of the disease, 
when I first visited them, neither of them was subjected to 
the cold affusion." 

Here then were fifty-eight cases of which fifty-six were 
treated hydropathically and all recovered, and two treated 
by the regular practice and both died. Of the fifty-six 
cured thirty were conducted safely through the disease, but 
in twenty-six the fever was not permitted even to run its 
course, but was at once attacked and annihilated by the cold 
affusion. But according to the recent hydropathic discove- 
ries, eminently successful as this treatment was, the wet- 
sheet would have been the more fit remedial application. 
The latter indeed is now the nearly universal form in which 
fever is treated by cold water. 

The author w T ill now take the liberty of citing two or 
three more examples of the curative effects of cold 
water (and therefore in particular of the wet-sheet) in 
fevers. They are again taken from the work of cele- 
brated hydropathic physicians. This work is entitled 
f 'yrvxpo\ov<nu or the History of cold bathing," by Drs. 
Sir John Floyer and Edward Baynard. The quotations 
are as under. 

" In fevers I have known a great many in my time, who 
by the over-care of their health-wrights were made deli- 
rious, and in their phrensy have leaped into a pond, or 
any other cold water, and not one, as I ever heard of, ever 
got any harm, but was thereby presently cured. And Dr. 

L 



74 CASES OF FEVER TREATED BY COLD WATER. 

Willis, I remember, instances a case or two, wherein they^have 
recovered by immerging into cold water, either by accident 
or distraction. And lately I saw at Mr. Charles Frubshaw's, 
at Salisbury court, a servant-maid, who, not long before, 
being delirious in a most intense fever, got loose and leaped 
into the river Thames, but, being soon taken up by a boat, 
was brought home in her wet-clothes, who no sooner being 
stript and dry clothes put on, but she went about her bus- 
iness, and was well as ever she was in her life. I had often 
heard this story in the neighbourhood, but being curious 
in the thing, I sent for the maid, and had this relation 
from her own mouth. 

" A learned and ingenious gentlemen, a Doctor of Laws, 
now living, told me that, being light-headed in a fever, and 
most intensely hot and thirsty, got from his nurse and 
rushed into a horse-pond in the yard, and there stayed above 
half an hour ; it brought him presently to his senses, and 
allayed both his heat and thirst; after which, when in bed, 
he fell into a sound sleep, and when he awaked (in a great 
sweat), he found he was well. 

"I myself, about the middle of July anno 1702, became 
very feverish (I suppose from drinking of milk upon 
eating melon, when I had been fast walking and very hot), 
my tongue was rough and white, my mouth clammy, and 
an ill taste, my urine of a bright amber colour, but no 
separation by standing, nor blue stain on the glass ; slept 
very disturbedly, and had a quick, high, towering pulse ; 
had strange flashes in my blood, like wild fire, which I 
could perceive in my face, neck, breast, and extreme parts, 
(and God forgive me, not so well prepared for a journey 
to the other world, as I ought to have been,) and found 
the fever to kindle upon me, and dreading the consequence 
of being delirious, knowing that the executioners would 
crowd in upon me and cere me alive in a sheet of blisters, 
&c. These considerations were terrible to think on, and 
that something was to be done quickly whilst I was my 



CASES OF FEVER TREATED BY COLD WATER. 75 

senses, and durst not bleed in a pale urine ; I took half an 
ounce of cream of tartar in the bath water, which gave me 
three or four stools, wliicli made me much worse. I sweat 
extremely spontaneously before I took the cream of tartar, 
but had no relief by it at all. I called my servant to get 
ready my swimming shoes, (for I have a tender foot, and 
cannot tread upon the stones), so down to the river went I 
at nine o'clock at night, and in leaped over head and ears, 
as they say, and swam up and down for some time under 
half an hour ; so home I came, and to bed I went ; I found 
myself in a state of neutrality, neither better nor worse. 
I at the cold water again the next day, and swam longer 
than the first time, and came home as well as ever I was in 
my life, and eat venison pasty, and drank a bottle of 
claret." ' 

All fever or feverish excitement is accompanied and 
indeed characterized by congestion of the skin, which may 
endure for a more or less lengthy period. In the inter- 
mitting form, which is called ague, this congestion of the 
skin occurs every day or every second or third day, accord- 
ing to the constitution of the fever, but always subsides 
leaving no traces of its presence behind. Typhus, or 
common continued fever sometimes leaves no mark on the 
surface, but sometimes again it gives rise to certain, little, 
definite, inflammatory congestions in the shape of papulae or 
pimples, which are technically called " maculae. " "When 
these shew themselves, the disease takes the name of macu- 
lated or spotted fever. Besides this affection there are 
other varieties of fever which constantly imprint their 
character on the skin by distinct eruptions. These may 
be termed the u accidental remains" of the cutaneous 
congestion that is natural to all fevers. This eruption may 
assume different shapes, and varying degrees of intensity 
in the inflammatory process. Thus Scarlet-fever and meas- 
les are distinguished by a mere efflorescence or reddening 
of the surface both of the skin and certain portions of 



76 THE TREATMENT OF SCARLET FEVER, MEASLES, 

mucous membrane. In chicken-pock the cutaneous in- 
flammation is developed in the form of vesicular elevations, 
the external portion of the skin, or cuticle being raised by 
the secretion beneath of a limpid, watery fluid. Small- 
pox is marked by the appearance of pimples, which subse- 
quently suppurate and discharge a quantity of thick matter. 
But although the temperature of the skin is invariably 
exalted, and although this cutaneous congestion always 
presents itself, still it is not confined exclusively to the 
skin. For example, in scarlet-fever in addition to the 
external eruption there is an efflorescence, pathognomonic 
of the disease, in the mucous membrane of the throat, or 
as it may be called, the internal skin. So also in measles 
equally unvarying with the visible, external redness there 
exists an internal congestion of the mucous membrane of 
the air passages, likewise characteristic of the disorder. 
This gives origin to the sneezing, suffusion of the eyes, 
bronchial irritation, such certain concomitants of the com- 
plaint. The author remembers at this moment one affec- 
tion of the same class of diseases as those two just 
mentioned, where the peculiar symptoms, that stamp its 
character, depend entirely upon the congestion of the 
internal skin, or mucous membrane. Hooping-cough is 
commonly supposed to originate in the enlargement of cer- 
tain glands in the neck, caused by the absorption into the 
blood of an animal poison, and the glandular irritation 
produced thereby. It is said that these abnormal growths 
press upon and morbidly excite the nerve upon whose 
influence the motion of certain of the muscles of respira- 
tion depend, and that this excitement causes spasmodic 
fits of coughing. It seems to the author however far 
more probable, from the general family resemblance 
between hooping-cough and the eruptive diseases above 
referred to, that it belongs to the same group, the nervous 
irritation and consequently the muscular spasm being pro- 
duced by the developement of the specific eruption on the 



SMALL-POX AND HOOPING-COUGH, BY COLD WATER. 77 

mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, in brief on 
the internal skin, instead of on the external. 

In all these eruptive diseases therefore the pathology 
being very similar to that of common ague, or typhus, and 
the symptoms, merely varying from accidental contingencies, 
the treatment one would argue theoretically, should be 
similar. And correctly too. For the treatment practically 
is the same both in medicine and hydropathy. The former 
almost always commences by the administration of a pur- 
gative, and then contents itself with the employment of 
mild diaphoretic remedies throughout the progress of the 
disease. The treatment pursued by the latter is the 
employment of the wet-sheet. 

The treatment of the eruptive or exanthematous fevers, 
as measles, scarlet-fever, chicken-pock, &c, by the appli- 
cation of the wet-sheet is now so generally admitted to be 
not only safe but most efficacious, that the author abstains 
from relating any cases in proof of this assumption. 
Although he has prepared many for the purpose of laying 
before the reader, still in order that he may not increase 
too much the bulk of this volume, they shall not be 
inserted. He will content himself with merely laying 
down one most important practical rule in the treatment 
of all fever by the wet-sheet. It is this, Never apply the 
sheet in fever except the pulse be more rapid than normal, 
and the skin more heated. Otherwise it will inevitably do 
more harm than good. And if the skin be chilly and the 
pulse very feeble, even though it may be fast, it might per- 
haps be fatal. The following case is extracted from a news- 
paper published a few days ago. It is entitled 

" Death accelerated by hydropathic treatment. — A coro- 
ner's inquest was held at the George Inn, Battle, Sussex, 
on Wednesday, before Mr. N. P. Kell, coroner, to inquire 
as to the death of J. Slatter, aged 36, son of one of the 
oldest and most respectable tradesmen in that town. From 
the evidence it appeared that several members of the 



78 FETAL EFFECTS OF EMPIRICAL TREATMENT. 

family had been suffering from severe attacks of typhous 
fever, and Alfred, the brother of the deceased, had fol- 
lowed the hydropathic system of treatment with deceased's 
assistance and with satisfactory results. On Alfred's re- 
covery he had gone to London, and deceased on being 
taken ill summoned him to return to Battle to administer 
the same system of remedial measures — wet-sheets, hot 
blankets, sponging with vinegar, &c. This was done per- 
fectly to the satisfaction both of the sufferer and his at- 
tendant, who, not daunted by so formidable a symptom as 
the passage from the bowels of masses of coagulated blood? 
which indeed they considered rather favourable than 
otherwise, deemed medical advice unnecessary, and till a 
late hour on Monday night the patient was not seen by 
any member of the profession. E. Holland,, surgeon, 
Battle, deposed, that at the request of some of deceased's 
friends he went to see him the night previous to his death. 
He found him in the last stage of the disease Restora- 
tives were prescribed, but without effect. At half-past 
two on the morning of Tuesday deceased was by his own 
desire raised in the bed to take some tea, but the effort 
was too great for his strength, and he fell back upon the 
pillow and expired. His opinion was, that although in 
some cases the hydropathic system might be useful,, it re- 
quired great care as to its management, and that deceased 
died from congestion of the intestines, produced by ex- 
haustion attendant upon the disease, and without doubt 
accelerated by the mode of treatment adopted. The jury 
returned a verdict to the above effect, adding that " the 
jurors censure the too indiscriminate use of the hydro- 
pathic treatment towards the deceased, and express their 
regret that medical advice and assistance were not sooner 
called in." 

In this verdict there can be no question the jury were 
perfectly correct. And the author entertains little doubt 
that the above rule was lamentably infringed, In all pro- 



COLD WATER IN INFLAMMATORY DISEASES. 79 

bability the unfortunate victim of his own and fraternal 
folly was wrapped in the sheet repeatedly without refer- 
ence to pulse, skin, perspiration or no perspiration, or any- 
thing else. Whereas neither when the pulse is feeble, or 
slow, nor when the skin is cold or bathed in perspiration, nor 
when there is any sign whatever of great debility should the 
employment of the wet-sheet in fever be for a moment enter- 
tained. It is essentially a remedy for fever in its hot stage. 

Now it has been stated that the efficacy of the wet- 
sheet in the eruptive fevers is so well known that the 
author deemed it to be superfluous to bring forward any 
cases, although he had many at hand. It is not however 
so generally known, even to the hydropathic world, that 
inflammatory fever, that is the febrile excitement accom- 
panying and dependent upon some local inflammation is 
equally amenable to this admirable remedy. Yet it is the 
fact. And to support this fact both theoretically and prac- 
tically a few paragraphs will be devoted. 

In the first place be it understood that the symptoms 
exhibited by the fever of inflammation, as of the lungs or 
bowels, are precisely the same as those developed by any 
specific fever, as typhus or small pox. There is the same 
accelerated pulse, the same burning skin, the same foul 
tongue, &c. &c. These of course are modified somewhat 
in different cases, but they are essentially identical. The 
only difference then between a case of inflammatory fever 
and an ordinary fever is that in the former case there is su- 
peradded some localized inflammation. But this defined 
spot of inflammation makes just all the difference in the 
medical treatment of the two cases. In fever without it, 
as has been before stated, the faculty generally are of 
opinion, that the less artificial aid administered the better. 
And they merely order a few mild sudorifics. Not so, 
however, with regard to inflammation. To fight against 
this they have an armament of great power — blood-letting, 
mercury, purgatives, and other antiphlogistic remedies. 



80 POWER OF THE WET-SHEET IN REDUCING THE PULSE. 

Now what is the object aimed at by this array of powerful 
remedies ? All of them have but one object, and that is to 
reduce the action of the heart — to lower the pulse. 
Whether blood be abstracted from the arm, calomel or 
blue pill be administered, purgation practised, or other 
small fry medicines of a febrifuge and diaphoretic charac- 
ter be swallowed, but one goal is held in view, namely, the 
reduction of the pulse. And why is this single purpose 
so strenuously sought after by all medical practitioners ? 
Because it is believed that an abatement of all the other 
febrile symptoms will follow, or accompany it. Most well- 
grounded the belief, most indisputable the fact, most lau- 
dable the aim, but how wofully inadequate the means ! 
That is to say in comparison with the hydropathic method. 
In the first six wet-sheet operations, that is in those where 
the frequency of the pulse more nearly resembled a state 
of feverish excitement than in t the last three, the amount 
of reduction of trie pulse by the packing for each opera- 
tion may be seen in a tabular form as below : — 

Operation. Amount of reduction. 
1 34.86 

2 34.15 

S 36.25 

4 37.90 

5 30.34 

6 28.88 

Estimating an average from these figures it will be found 
that the pulse fell in rapidity 33.73 beats in the minute. 
In these same six operations the average speed of the 
pulse before the commencement of the process was 99.33, 
so that during the period that the packing lasted the pulse 
absolutely diminished more than J of its original number 
of beats ! Can diaphoretics, or febrifuges, ipecacuanha, 
acetate of ammonia, sweet spirits of nitre effect this ? 
Can purgation, even the most drastic, do it ? Can calomel, 
blue pill, or Plummer's pill ? Lastly, does even the most 



POWER OF THE WET-SHEET IN REDUCING THE PULSE. 81 

all-powerful blood-letting possess the power of achieving 
results equal to this ? The author does not think that any 
medical practitioner will for a moment deny that bleeding, 
mercury, purgatives, or any drug the pharmacopcea can 
produce, is capable at all events of reducing the pulse so 
speedily as the wet-sheet. For in the first six cases just 
quoted it has been shown there was an average reduction of 
the pulse of more than twenty-one beats in a minute, or 
less than a minute ! 

If it be granted that the object held in view in the treat- 
ment of acute inflammations, as pleurisy, inflammation of 
the bowels, &c. is to quiet the heart's action, and to evidence 
this by lowering the pulse, and that the wet-sheet possesses 
this power in a pre-eminent degree, surely the wet-sheet 
is pre-eminently adapted for the treatment of these acute 
inflammations. At all events the author believes it to be 
so, and such being his belief, he has put his theory to the 
test of practice. 

The case that he is about to detail, was one well adapted 
for the purpose had in view. It was one of so serious a 
character that persons not steadfast in their faith would 
have been afraid to treat it by other than the ordinary 
routine practice. By the stethoscopic investigation he 
from time to time instituted into the state of the chest he 
ascertained clearly, that it was a case of very severe acute 
"bronchitis of the small tubes," or as it is sometimes 
called "suffocative bronchitis." In vulgar language it 
would be called " inflammation of the lungs." 

On the 25th of November, 1849, I was summoned to 
the bedside of a patient labouring under a severe attack of 
acute inflammation of the lungs. She was a married 
woman, aged 39, of a rather corpulent habit. She had 
been troubled with a cough for three or four days, which 
was sufficiently severe to deprive her of all appetite, but 
not hitherto to confine her to her room. When I saw her 
her cough was very distressing, and her respiration accom- 

M 



82 CASE OF INFLAMMATION OF THE CHEST 

plished with considerable difficulty. She complained of 
pain at the pit of the stomach, and displayed the usual 
symptoms of fever, viz. a furred tongue, great thirst, ac- 
celerated pulse, hot skin, &c. In a few days all these 
symptoms were aggravated. Her cough became violent 
and prolonged, and suffused the whole countenance with a 
dark red hue, making the veins stand out turgid with 
blood. What little expectoration was with immense diffi- 
culty and suffering achieved, was transparent, frothy, and 
very tenacious, indicative of the intense inflammation 
burning within. The breathing became noisy, and so short, 
that the patient was obliged to have her head and shoulders 
raised for fear of absolute suffocation. The pain in the 
chest assumed a lancinating, stabbing character, as though 
a knife were passing through her side. In one word the 
sword hung over her head suspended by a hair, and death 
might have claimed his own at any moment. When, lo! 
her symptoms were gradually ameliorated, and in the end 
she totally recovered. But how did she recover, when she 
commenced to improve ? Not slowly, not gradually ; on the 
contrary she galloped on to convalescence as rapidly as she 
had fallen ill. In ten days she was out of bed, and might 
have been sooner, but, as there was no necessity for it, I 
did not wish to hazard a relapse. In fourteen days her 
cough had vanished entirely. And what was her treat- 
ment ? No bleeding ! No leeches ! No blisters ! No 
cupping ! No mercury ! No purgatives ! It would be 
useless describing it in detail, since no two cases can be 
treated exactly in the same way. Suffice it then merely to 
say that the cure was conducted hydropathically, and that 
the processes administered consisted of the wet-packing, the 
tepid shallow bath, and the copious imbibition of cold water. 
When my patient was quite well, she told me that she 
had had three similar attacks, but none so severe as the last. 
For all of them she had been treated in the Infirmary of 
Manchester (I mention this to show that she had the best 



TREATED WITH COLD WATER. 83 

professional advice that could be procured, and was treated 
in the most generally-approved manner). The first oc- 
curred five years ago. A part of her treatment was as 
follows : — she was bled in both arms, not because the 
blood would not flow from the vein first wounded, but be- 
cause one venisection was not considered sufficient for the 
emergency of the case ; — (but, remember, it was not so 
severe as the last, hydropathically treated) — she was cupped 
twice on the chest;— -fifteen leeches were applied, and one 
blister. In spite of this powerful treatment she kept her 
hed.five weeks (that is, rather more than three times as long 
as in the attack treated without the abstraction of blood). 
From the shock of this rude attack (of the disease or of 
the lancet, I don't know which,) she states that she has 
never perfectly recovered. 

Eight or nine months afterwards, her enemy, inflamma- 
tion of the lungs, assailed her again. Her case was again 
conducted under the same medical auspices. This time 
she was cupped once to the extent of sixteen ounces of 
blood ; the teeth of thirty leeches were allowed to lacerate 
her skin at one sitting ; mustard poultices were brought 
into play ; and her back was burnt in three or four places 
by a hot iron, as a counter-irritant. Under this treatment, 
although the attack was not so severe as in the case hy- 
dropathically treated, she remained in bed four weeks, that 
is nearly three times as long. When she did get up, she 
was exceedingly ill, and for several weeks laboured under 
various distressing head symptoms, viz. pain, giddiness, 
confusion, &c. These were eventually removed ; by what ? 
a hydropathic application, the shower bath. 

About a year elapsed between her second and third sei- 
zure. In the latter, treated in the same hospital by pro- 
bably the same physicians, she lost sixteen ounces of blood 
by cupping, and as much more as would flow from the 
bites of from twenty to twenty -five leeches three times ap- 
plied, that is from sixty to seventy -five leeches. This time 



84 CASE OF INFLAMMATION OF THE CHEST 

she was confined to her bed for five weeks, (that is more 
than three times as long as in the attack last treated). 
This time also her cough did not disappear till the expira- 
tion of five months. 

The points of distinction between the results of the me- 
dical and of the hydropathic treatment of this patient are 
then principally and simply these : 

On the three occasions of being medicinally treated she 
was confined to her bed during the respective periods of 
five weeks, four weeks, and five weeks. On the occasion of 
being hydropathically treated, although the attack was more 
severe than any of the others, she was confined to her bed 
ten days. 

Secondly, the copious withdrawal of blood being in the 
three first instances followed by no good result, as we have 
seen by instituting a comparison between the four attacks, 
we should reason a priori that it must be attended with 
deleterious consequences. For this, the most vitally-en- 
dowed constituent of the body, from which every part of 
the human fabric is made, and upon whose good or bad 
properties health and disease depend, this living flesh, 
chair coulante, essence of life, cannot be allowed to escape 
with impunity. And our foredrawn conclusion is amply 
borne out by the facts of the case before us, namely by 
the difference in duration of the four periods of convales- 
cence. After the first attack, to quote her own words, 
" she remained very poorly for three or four months, and 
has never since been so strong as she was before." After 
the second attack "she was very ill for six or eight weeks, 
and for three or four suffered a great deal of head-ache, 
giddiness, and inability to distinguish different colors." 
These symptoms were removed by the shower bath. After 
the third attack the cough itself was not removed before the 
completion of five months. After the last, and present ac- 
cession the cough was gone entirely in a fortnight, and 
fourteen days after the disappearance of the cough, and 



TREATED WITH COLD WATER. 85 

twenty-eight after the onset of the disease, she was quite 
well, and actively employed in domestic duties. 

Concerning this case there still remains one tiling to be 
said, and that by no means of an unimportant nature. 
Once more to use her own words, " After each of the three 
first attacks, constipation set in, and she had to use aperient 
medicines constantly, that is three or four times a week, for 
several months." The reader will anticipate the rest. 
After the present illness no constipation whatever has 
existed. 

To sum up, therefore, the evidence upon this subject the 
author certainly thinks it has been made sufficiently clear 
on both theoretical and practical grounds, and by exem - 
plification both on the healthy body and the diseased one, 
that the wet-sheet is peculiarly adapted for the treatment 
of fevers and inflammations. 

Hence it follows also that this process is highly, if not 
most, useful in those kinds, stages, or conditions of chronic 
disorders accompanied by any amount, however slight, of 
febrile excitement. 

Before proceeding farther, lest the reader should fall 
into an erroneous notion, it may be as well to mention that 
as a general rule the patient must not be detained in the 
wet-packing so long as those detailed in this chapter. 
Accordingly as the attack is severe must the wet-sheet 
wrapping be short in duration, and quickly repeated. And 
this must be done without the intervention of the shallow 
or any other bath. When this repetition is required there 
must be two bedsteads in the patient's room. While he is 
lying packed on one, the other must be prepared, so that 
he can turn out of one wet-sheet into another immediately. 
The frequency of this change must depend, as before men- 
tioned, upon the ardency of the fever. 

In the first six operations the number of movements of 
the chest in respiration per minute prior to the process 
would be represented by the following figures, beginning 



86 STATISTICS OF THE BESPJRATOKY MOVEMENTS. 

with the first, 24, 24, 24, 18, 22, 19. These produce an 
average of 21.83. The number of respiratory movements 
immediately after the packing in the same operations, 
reckoning in the same manner, are thus arranged, 32, 36, 
32, 40, 32, 32. The medium of these per operation 
would be 34. And thus is discovered an elevation of 
12.17 in the minute on the immediate application of the 
wet-sheet. This elevation of 12.17 respirations took place 
at the same time that there occurred a depression of the 
pulse to the extent of 21.67 beats in the minute. 

The average rate of speed for the whole period of the 
process in these six cases would be 23.34 respiratory move- 
ments per minute. This will denote an increase upon the 
original rapidity of the respiration before the commence- 
ment of the operations, which was 21.83, of 1.51, and while 
this increased rapidity of the breathing occurs, the pulse 
falls 33.73 beats. But while there is here manifested an 
exaltation of 1.51 above the first examined state of the 
respiratory process, there is a considerable diminution in 
speed in comparison with that immediately after the first 
envelopement in the cold sheet. 

In the three last operations the average number of res- 
pirations per minute before the beginning of the packing 
was 20.33. Those immediately after being wrapt in the 
sheet amounted to just 21. So that there is here seen an 
elevation produced by the cold shock of only .67 instead of 
12.17, which was the increase gained in the first six opera- 
tions. This difference clearly depends upon the difference 
in the temperaments of the individuals in the two cases, 
that one when the great exaltation was produced being 
mobile, easily susceptible to external impressions, and the 
other one being phlegmatic, not easily excited. While in 
the respiration this elevation of .67 is taking place, the pulse 
has fallen fourteen beats. 

The average rapidity of respiration for the whole process 
in the same three operations would be 21.70 per minute. 



DOES COLD WATER CAUSE CONGESTION ? 87 

This indicates a rise above the original state of breathing 
before the operation, which was 20.33, of 1.37, and also 
an exaltation above the rapidity of respiration immediately 
after the envelopement, which was 21, of .70. In this latter 
respect then there is an essential difference between the first 
and second sets of experiments. The dissimilarity may 
be with justice referred to the same dissimilarity in tem- 
perament. During the time, that the respiratory move- 
ments have been gaining 1.37 in the minute, the pulse has 
declined 24.35 beats. 

It appears therefore that however much the two series of 
operations may differ in detail, they agree to a marvel in 
the one great particular. Indeed these very little discrepan- 
cies strongly confirm the main argument sought to be 
proved. This particular and this argument is that men- 
tioned in the introductory chapter, namely the effect 
hydropathic measures produce in elevating the respiratory 
process in proportion to that of the circulation, in other 
words in increasing the respirations in proportion to the 
number of beats of the pulse. The admirable physiolo- 
gical benefits arising from this cause in the maintenance of 
health, and in the removal of disease, have been to a cer- 
tain extent dwelt upon in the introductory chapter. 
And they need not be recapitulated. 

Perhaps the reader may call to mind that, when talking 
upon this subject in the first chapter, and shewing how 
chronic disease was amenable to the hydropathic treatment 
in a great measure, through this excellent principle, the 
author among other causes of chronic disease mentioned 
congestion. Yet the water-cure has somehow or other 
obtained the credit of producing this decreased condition, 
this congestion. 

Patients have frequently enquired of the author, if in 
such or such a case, or by this or that process, or in Mr. 
so and so, there be no liability of " congestion." They 
tell him moreover that although their family medical 



88 COLD WATER DOES NOT CAUSE CONGESTION, 

advisers granted that in some cases the hydropathic system 
might be of service, still in their case they were very much 
afraid of " congestion." Thus one person will be afraid 
of it producing congestion of the head, another of con- 
gestion of the chest, another of congestion of the liver, 
another of no particular congestion, but of general inter- 
nal congestion. Now nothing can be more absurd than 
this bug-bear theoretically, and nothing more untrue prac- 
tically. It is well known to every one at all cognizant 
with the theory and practice of hydropathy that its very 
essential and characteristic property is to determine blood 
to the surface, to draw it from the viscera, and to the skin. 
Is not this one specific effect of the wet-sheet, the sweating 
blankets, the sitz-bath ? And is it not the general effect 
of all the ordinary cold tonic baths as the dripping-sheet, 
the shallow-bath or the candouche ? and of even the douche 
itself? Nevertheless it must be admitted that the persons 
who, to their shame be it spoken, are totally unacquainted 
with the physiological effects of water applied externally 
to the body, it must be admitted that to such persons it 
would appear on a prima facie view somewhat reasonable 
to suppose that the employment of cold applications should 
give rise to some local congestion in a system predisposed 
to such an affection. But this foundationless and empty 
reasoning is at once put to night, or at all events, invalida- 
ted by every-day experience. To bring forward an example, 
the author has at the present moment under his care a gen- 
tleman, who will well illustrate all the circumstances of the 
case. He is about forty-five years of age and declares 
that he has been subject to fits of asthma for forty years. 
There can be no doubt from the clear manner in which he 
details his case, that his symptoms were once those of 
genuine spasmodic asthma, his early seizure being probably 
due to inheritance, or at all events to some peculiar con- 
stitutional tendency. Be that as it may, he does not now 
suffer from spasmodic asthma. His symptoms when he 



EXEMPLIFICATION OF THIS FACT. 89 

first came to the author, were considerable permanent 
difficulty in breathing, the latter being always audible ; a 
constant cough, liable to exacerbations and remissions ; the 
expectoration of a thick, opaque, yellowish phlegm ; fre- 
quent sharp pains at the margin of the ribs on both sides 
in front ; and frequent severe pain at the most projecting 
part of the spine, requiring him, to obtain ease, to press 
the part firmly against the head of a sofa, or back of a 
chair ; slight lividity of the eyelids, and lips ; occasional 
fits of drowsiness and torpor ; weak and watery eyes ; very 
weak lower extremities ; and a few other symptoms of 
dyspepsia and general debility, as flatulence, frequent 
diarrhoea, &c. On examining his chest physically it was 
discovered that the centre of the breast-bone and the cor- 
responding part of the spine behind projected so much as 
to make the cavity of the thorax put on quite a globular 
ajppearance. And on instituting a stethoscopic investigation 
it was at once perceived that he laboured under considera- 
ble organic disease, recognised by the medical terms of 
" pulmonary emphysema " and " chronic bronchitis." The 
latter consisted in a chronic inflammation of the larger 
bronchial tubes of both lungs, this inflammation giving rise 
to the secretion of the thick yellow stuff, that was expecto- 
rated. And the emphysema consisted in the dilatation and 
rupture of a large quantity of air cells in both lungs 
equally. The dilatation and rupture, produced at some 
time or other by prolonged and severe fits of coughing, 
caused the existence of large cavities, which became exten- 
sive reservoirs for stagnating air. For at each inspiration 
air is capable of entering them, but at the expiratory 
movement which follows, is incapable of retreating. Hence 
they sometimes, as in the present instance, attain so 
monstrous a size by continual distension, that they mate- 
rially disfigure the external appearance of the chest. 

Such was the condition of this gentleman, when he had 
recourse to the author for advice about seven weeks ago. 

N 



90 A CASE SHEWING THAT COLD WATER 

He came contrary to the counsel of all his friends, and in 
direct contradiction to the opinion of his usual medical 
attendant. When he arrived, one of the first things he 
enquired was, whether there was any fear of internal con- 
gestion, for that his medical adviser had assured him that 
although the hydropathic applications might be available 
in some diseases with advantage, in him they would cer- 
tainly cause such congestion as would entail considerable 
danger. He was of course immediately answered that it 
was perfectly true that in his case, where there was already 
congestion of the head and chest, any additional congestion 
might produce most deleterious consequences, but that it 
was equally true, that with judicious treatment no such 
addition was with any reason to be apprehended. Since 
that period he has had cold ablutions on the whole body 
with dripping towels ; he has also had the wet-sheet pack- 
ing and the cold sitz bath, not only without the arrival of 
this dreaded apparition, but with such marked benefit, 
that nearly all the symptoms that were curable have been 
either cured, or ameliorated. The emphysema of course 
and its necessary consequences, the distortion of the chest, 
and difficulty of breathing, are incurable. But the dull 
pain in the back, and the sharp pains at the margins of the 
ribs are gone. The difficulty of breathing is less than it 
was. The fits of torpor and drowsiness are much less 
frequent. All dyspepsia has vanished. Nay more, his 
breathing is never better, if so well, which is equiva- 
lent to saying, his chest is never less if so little harrassed 
or congested with blood, as when lying in a wet-sheet 
packing or reposing in a sitz-bath. And from what has 
been said and proved to demonstration this fact can now 
be readily explained. The cold water applications heighten 
the rapidity of the respiration, but diminish the frequency 
of the pulse. This is tantamount to saying, more air, but 
less blood is admitted into the lungs than usual. Is not 
this the very way to ameliorate the breathing ? For it has 



DOES NOT PRODUCE CONGESTION. 91 

been shewn, that there was already present in the pulmo- 
nary tissue a certain amount of congestion. Indeed this 
congestion is necessary to the existence of bronchitis. 
Now the more blood that enters the lungs and the less air 
that meets it, the more imperfectly is the purification of 
the blood therein effected, and as an inevitable consequence, 
the greater tendency there is for that fluid to stagnate in 
the vessels, in other words to add to the already existing 
congestion. And vice versa it necessarily follows, that the 
greater the quantity of air inhaled, and the less the 
tide of blood flowing into the lungs at the same time, the 
more perfectly is the aeration of that fluid discharged, and 
the more easily is already existing congestion overcome. 

Here then is a case, where every predisposition existed 
for the developement of congestion both of the lungs and 
brain. Yet that condition, which in truth previously 
existed in both brain and lungs, was actually relieved by 
the cold water appliances, instead of being thereby exag- 
gerated. 

It may be safely laid down as a rule, that visceral con- 
gestion is decidedly not a thing to be apprehended as 
attendant upon the hydropathic system. It is a bug-bear, 
a false terror, nothing else. 

As a further practical proof that this assertion is correct 
witness the case of " acute inflamation of the lungs " 
detailed a few pages preceding. The respiratory organs of 
this patient were congested to overflowing before the wet- 
sheet was used. If it had filled them still more, she must 
have inevitably and quickly died. But so far from this 
being the result, she rapidly and steadily recovered. 

The author imagines now that many, if not all, persons 
would at first sight see great danger in that very property 
for which he has been so highly lauding the wet-sheet. 
He alludes to its depressing influence upon the arterial 
system. "What?" he can hear them cry, "Can our 
pulse be lowered thirty or forty beats in the minute with 



92 EFFECT OF THE SHALLOW-BATH AND DRYING-SHEET 

impunity ? Can it be brought down to forty and forty- 
two throbs per minute without risk ? Are you sure it 
always recovers itself, and at the right moment ? " &c. &c. 
To demolish all these scruples is the work of an instant. 
Refer to the experiments, and carefully observe the effects 
of the shallow-bath and drying-sheet. It will then be per- 
ceived that the unvarying effect of these two parts of the 
process throughout the whole of the operations is to 
accelerate both the pulse and respiration. 

By an easy calculation applied to the nine wet-sheet 
operations it will be ascertained that the average rapidity 
of the pulse, when acted upon by the shallow-bath, was 
72.66, and when under the influence of the drying-sheet 
76.11. But it has been seen that the average speed of the 
pulse produced by the wet-sheet packing itself was 58.28. 
The shallow-bath therefore has raised it 14.38 beats in the 
minute, and the drying-sheet has still further elevated it to 
the extent of 8.45 beats. In operation No. 7 the pulse 
descended to forty-two. Yet in the shallow-bath it was up 
again at seventy-two. In operation No. 9 it went down 
even two degrees lower, and reached the unparalleled 
depression of 40. Yet in the drying-sheet it was up again 
at 72 ! Hence it is satisfactorily demonstrated, that there 
need be no anxiety occasioned from the fear that the pulse, 
however low it may have been reduced, will not be able to 
recover itself. 

Moreover from these facts we draw two important deduc- 
tions. The first is that as a general principle in chronic 
disease the wet-sheet packing must be peremptorily fol- 
lowed by a cold bath. The object of this sequence is 
two-fold, the one being that the cold water may act as a 
tonic to the skin, strengthening and constringing that 
membrane, which has been softened and relaxed by the 
aqueous vapor in the sheet (for when the sheet becomes 
warm, the patient is enveloped in a gentle cloud of vapor, 
the process becoming a mild vapor-bath)— the other object 



AFTER THE PACK UPON THE PULSE AND BREATHING. 93 

being to insure an efficient and speedy restoration of 
the heart and vessels to their normal action. For of course 
it is not pretended to assert, that this enormous reduction of 
pulse, although of inexpressible value in the subdual of 
of disease, is anything but a highly artificial condition. 

The second important practical deduction we derive from 
a consideration of the foregoing facts refers to the mode of 
treating severe acute diseases. Inasmuch as the cold bath 
and drying-sheet re-erect the fallen pulse, and the express 
object sought in the management of ardent fevers and 
inflammations is to tranquilize it, and maintain it tranquil, 
of course these two must in these circumstances be avoided. 
And such in point of fact, as before mentioned, experience 
teaches us is the best, most efficacious mode of treatment, 
and most speedy in its results. The plan to be adopted 
in such cases is to repeat the wet-sheet, according to the 
violence of the febrile excitement, every ten, fifteen, 
twenty, or thirty minutes, without the intervention of any 
other bath. For this purpose a double-bedded room 
must be employed, so that the invalid may pass from one 
wet sheet into another without delay, or interruption. 

A few words now on the effect of the shallow -bath and 
drying-sheet upon the respiration. The average rapidity 
of the respiratory movements per minute while under the 
influence of the shallow-bath, and drawn from a comparison 
of the nine operations, is exactly 25. That caused by the 
drying- sheet is 26.77. And it has been already shewn 
that the average number of respirations during the whole 
process was in the first six operations 23.34, and in the 
last three 21.70. These two numbers added together and 
divided by 2 will yield a single average for the nine experi- 
ments of 22.52. Hence it follows that the shallow-bath 
quickens the respiration by 2.48 costal movements in the 
minute, for 25—2.48=22.52, and that the drying-sheet 
further elevates it 1.77 for 25+1.77=26.77. But before 
the commencement of the packing the nine experiments 



94 STATISTICS CONCERNING THE RESPIRATION. 

produced an average of 21.08. So that it will be perceived, 
that throughout the whole process from the beginning to 
the end the rapidity of the respiratory movements is con- 
stantly rising. It is quite worth while to arrange this in 
a tabular form. 

Average respiration 
per minute. 

Before the process 21.08 

During the process 22.52 

In the shallow-bath 25.00 

In the drying-sheet 26.77 

The exceedingly beneficial effect upon the system, result- 
ing from this influence exerted upon the respiration cannot 
be too frequently or too forcibly impressed upon the 
reader. The author would urge the latter, now that he 
has arrived thus far, to retrace his steps, and reperuse the 
introductory chapter. As by first reading that chapter he 
has been able more to appreciate the value of the facts 
proved in this, so having had now demonstrated to him as 
incontrovertible fact what before was mere assertion, he 
will return to a perusal of the illustrations of the subject 
there displayed with infinitely more relish and satisfaction. 
He will once again see explained how at each inspiration a 
definite amount of atmospheric air is taken into the lungs, 
and that each contraction of the heart pumps into the same 
organs a definite amount of blood ; how in a state of health 
one respiratory movement corresponds to so many con- 
tractions of the heart, and while this fixed correspondence 
or harmonious relation between the aforesaid viscera is 
maintained, the aeration or purification of the blood in the 
pulmonary tissue is accomplished in perfection, because 
there is just sufficient air and just sufficient blood admitted 
to be capable of employing the services of each other ; 
how that a disturbance of this equilibrium is an extremely 
frequent consequence of a sedentary mode of living, 
unwholesome confinement in close, warm atmospheres, and 



TEMPERATURE OF THE WET-SHEET PACKING. 95 

a too sedulous application to business, study, &c. ; and 
finally how by the resulting imperfect oxygenation or de- 
carbonization of the blood, that fluid passes through and 
from the lungs in a venous, contaminated state, engender- 
ing disease, into whatever part of the body it may flow. 

Following the various parts of the process in rotation it 
will now be the proper time for speaking of the tempera- 
ture of the wet-sheet. The numbers representing the 
state of the thermometer when disengaged from the 
sheet in each operation, beginning with the first will 
be on Fahrenheit's scale 93, 91, 93, 93, 90, 95, 95, 93, 92. 
The average amount deduced from these is 92.77° F. 
From this experiment of ascertaining the actual tempera- 
ture of the wet-sheet we obtain several useful pieces of 
information. 

In the first place we learn that the heat in the packing- 
is pretty uniform, on whatever temperament it may be 
practised. It seems to vary only by a few degrees, the 
prevailing whole number being 93. The author has repeated 
this experiment in several cases of disease, for example 
in strumous inflammation of the glands of the neck, in 
dyspepsia, and in a case of chronic bronchitis, and he has 
found the same results within a few fractions of the second 
order. It may therefore be safely pronounced that in 
health and in ordinary chronic diseases, if the patient be 
well packed, the figures 92.77° F. about represent the 
average temperature of the wet-sheet; of course if the 
packing were injudiciously ordered in very debilitated con- 
stitutions, these might not be able to maintain an external 
temperature of that height. And on the other hand in 
acute febrile and inflammatory affections the thermometer 
placed in the sheet would mount still higher. 

By reference to the details of the operations, and an ob- 
servation of the remarks denoting the state of the various 
sensations of the bathers, it will be perceived that in ope- 
ration 1. the thermometer stood at 93° F. and the person 



96 SENSATION NO GUIDE FOR THE ACTUAL HEAT. 

felt warm. In operation 2. the therm, at 91° F. he was 
also warm and comfortable. In operation 3. the therm, 
being only at 98° F. he became quite hot. In operation 4. 
the therm, also at 93° F. he also became quite hot. In 
operation 5. the therm, at 90° F. he felt quite warm. In 
operation 6. the thermometer was five degrees higher than 
in last operation, yet he only felt warm. In operation 7. 
the therm, at 95° F. the bather, now a different individual, 
only felt moderately warm. In operation 8. the therm, at 
98° F. he felt neither warm nor cold. In operation 9. the 
therm, at 92° F. he felt quite comfortable, but not decidedly 
warm. The author remembers distinctly that as a general 
principle the first person, namely, he of the sanguine tem- 
perament, described himself as warm long before the phleg- 
matic individual, and that the latter very frequently even 
when he was quite comfortable did not call himself warm. 
The latter never by any chance became hot. 

From these experiments arise two general inferences. 
The first is, that in regard to the actual temperature out- 
side the body in the wet-packing little reliance can be 
placed upon the patient's feelings, the sensations being in 
truth no guide whatever. The author has more than once, 
when invalids have complained of feeling cold in the sheet, 
and he has consequently expected to find the actual tem- 
perature lower than usual, been disappointed in discover- 
ing the mercury at 93° F. or thereabouts. The second in- 
ference is, that the difference of corporeal disposition makes 
no alteration in the thermometric, but considerable altera- 
tion in the sensational temperature. Enough on this sub- 
ject for the present. It will again be briefly brought on 
the tapis by and by. 

In the wet-sheet operation the next matter, that under 
other circumstances should be discussed, is the change of 
temperature effected upon the water in the shallow bath, 
but as this effect will be fully treated in the chapter devo- 
ted to the shallow bath, the author begs to refer the reader 
thither for its exposition. 



THE WET-SHEET NOT A SUDORIFIC. 9/ 

We now arrive at a, if not the, most important point in 
this chapter, namely the alteration in weight produced 
upon the body by lying in the wet-sheet. It is, the 
author believes, at the present day (May 6th, 1850) uni- 
versally understood that, if a person be allowed to remain 
sufficiently long in the wet-sheet packing, namely for two 
or three hours, it becomes a sudorific, a sweating process. 
At all events it was considered so by all to whom the 
author spoke upon the subject, and he spoke to many on 
purpose to gather the general opinion thereupon. Wish- 
ing to investigate this matter thoroughly, as he had his 
doubts about the accuracy of the fact, although he believes 
it to be the general opinion of hydropathic practitioners 
as well as the laity, he instituted a series of experiments. 
Those experiments are already before the reader. The 
conclusion he arrived at was, that it was quite a mistaken 
notion, and that the wet-sheet however long protracted is 
not a sudorific process under any circumstances. But this 
is a matter of such considerable interest to the physiologi- 
cal mind, and of such deep importance in the treatment of 
disease, that he hopes he shall not sue for pardon in vain, 
if his enquiry into it be rather minute. 

How came it then to be commonly believed that a pro- 
tracted wet-sheet packing reduced a person by perspira- 
tion ? There were in the author's conception several rea- 
sons for this, some of a gross character and some very 
pardonable — and yet not pardonable, since no one should 
tamely take a thing for granted, of this serious consequence, 
but should rather invariably test its accuracy for himself. 
One reason at first and most superficial view plausible, but 
when sifted of a very ridiculous stamp is the following. 
When a patient first steps upon the wet-sheet he receives 
a sudden cold shock. The suddenness and coldness make 
so strong an impression upon him that he feels nothing 
else. But after ten or twenty minutes he feels warm, and 
now for the first time experiences a sensation of moisture. 
o 



98 THE PREVALENT OPINION ON THIS SUBJECT 

Not having perceived this before, he erroneously ascribes 
it to exudation of fluid through his own skin. But the 
truth is he was just as moist before, but the more powerful 
impression, of the cold shock had cloaked the sensation, or 
rather had prevented its being appreciated. The moisture 
now felt is nothing more than the water contained in the 
interstices of the sheet, and most unquestionably is not per- 
spiration. Some of the readers of this work may think 
this circumstance too trivial, and too easily dismissed to be 
worth mentioning. But the author conceives himself to 
be right in alluding to it, as his own patients have fre- 
quently spoken of it to him as an argument in favour of a 
sudorific action in the wet-sheet. 

Another cause, which is rather merely an extension of 
the first cause, and equally untenable, is that the patient 
when he leaves the packing smokes visibly. This smoke is 
often wrongly set down as perspiration. It is the same 
water, as aqueous vapor of course, detached from the sheet 
and adhering to the skin. A third argument on the side 
of this sudorific effect of the wet-sheet may be found in 
the fact that a frequent repetition, or prolonged use of it 
exercises a very debilitating influence. This debilitating 
influence is wrongly attributed to the actual abstraction of 
substance through the cutaneous pores. Now let the 
author be clearly understood. He does not assert or even 
think that any hydropathic physician believes in all these 
reasons. On the contrary he conceives that no person at 
all grounded in the principles of physiology could yield 
any credit to the former two. But he does say that the 
lay hydropathists frequently so misunderstand all three 
circumstances. With regard to the hydropathic practi- 
tioner all the author means to aver is, that he believes it to 
be the general opinion of that class, that when the wet- 
sheet packing is protracted beyond the usual period, which 
is enjoined to produce its antiphlogistic, anodyne, or 
slightly derivative effect, the latter property becomes 



SHEWN TO BE ERRONEOUS. 99 

so strong as to convert a soothing, calming process into a 
sudorific one. 

That this latter effect cannot be achieved the author has 
convinced himself in a most satisfactory manner. In the 
first place the forehead does not perspire, however long the 
packing may endure. Now in the blanket-packing, and 
in that kind of vapor bath, where the head is excluded 
from the vapor, the sign of the beginning, and establish- 
ment, and amount of perspiration, is observed on the fore- 
head alone. As a general rule, when other parts of the 
body are exuding moisture, that particular locality, which 
is exposed to view, participates in that event. But in the 
wet-sheet packing, no matter how protracted, no moisture 
breaks out upon the forehead ; whereby we are supplied 
with one powerful argument to enable us to judge of the 
non-sudorific character of this process. 

Secondly, the weakening effect visiting the system from 
a too lengthened employment of the wet-sheet can be ex- 
plained in a far more satisfactory manner than upon the 
hypothesis of perspiration. Allusion is made to its de- 
pressing effect upon the pulse. For as it has been plainly 
shown that this property through judicious management is 
capable of effecting most excellent results both in acute 
and chronic diseases, so also there can be no question that, 
where want of judgment is displayed, it can work the most 
deleterious influence. When a person's heart stops, we 
all know he is dead. And therefore it may be easily un- 
derstood that the nearer his heart is to stopping, cceteris 
paribus, the nearer he is to death. Now if the practi- 
tioner exhibit skill and judgment, the patient, that is his 
heart, is never allowed to step beyond a certain boundary. 
It is neither permitted to fall too low, nor to be main- 
tained in a low state for too long a time. Upon the su- 
pervention of the slightest symptom of exceeding the limit, 
the sheet is discontinued. Nor let the reader stand aghast 
at learning the fact, that the sheet engenders a condition 



100 THE WET-SHEET DEMONSTRATED TO BE 

more allied to death. Let him not fear it on that account. 
For is not sleep of near kin to death ? 

How wonderful is death, 
Death, and his brother, sleep. 

Yet is no one afraid to trust himself to morpheus. In the 
same way let no one fear the sheet in competent hands. 

After a certain extent of diminution of arterial pulsa- 
tion, either in immediate amount or in this condition being 
prolonged, harmful consequences ensue. Very much the 
same effects result, as attend in ordinary circumstances a 
deficiency of muscular exercise. This want is productive 
of evil from its depriving the circulating organs of their 
stimulus to action. They consequently become feeble, 
and languid, and discharge their duty in a lazy, dilatory, 
inefficient manner. A precisely similar state of things is 
the necessary sequel to an injudicious application, or un- 
wise prolongation of the wet-sheet. In both cases of 
course great debility follows, and all the corporeal func- 
tions are disturbed. 

But let it be remembered that sometimes the physician 
aims at the production of this debility. Cases occur, 
when it is beneficial to weaken, to reduce a person. Be 
this however as it may, intentional or not intentional, the 
author attributes, he believes with fairness and justice, 
this debilitating effect, whenever it may be produced, not 
to any perspiration, but to the lowering effect manifested 
by the wet-sheet upon the heart and arteries. 

A third reason now comes for the author's denying the 
existence of any sudorific quality in the wet-sheet, and 
which he conceives to be irresistible. It is derived from 
the acquisition of correct information concerning the ac- 
tual weight of persons before and after the packing. To 
conduct this argument in as conclusive a manner as possi- 
ble, in the nine preceding operations, (some of which en- 
dured^ for the same length of period that it required for 
the same persons in the blanket-packing to perspire pro- 



NOT A SUDORIFIC OR SWEATING PROCESS, 101 

fusely), the individuals were balanced as accurately as pos- 
sible immediately before and immediately after each pro- 
cess. The loss of weight occasioned during each operation 
beginning at the first was as follows : — 1 oz., § oz., 1 J oz., 
1| oz., %\ oz., 2 J oz., 3J oz., 1| oz., and J oz. 

The first operation lasted one hour, and the loss of 
weight was one ounce. The second lasted also one hour, 
and the loss was but three quarters of an ounce. The 
third lasted an hour and ten minutes, and the loss one 
ounce and a quarter. The fourth continued one hour and 
a half, still the loss was only one ounce and a quarter. 
The fifth continued an hour and forty minutes, occasioning 
a loss in weight of two ounces and a quarter. The sixth 
was nearly an hour longer in duration, namely continu- 
ing two hours and a half, yet the diminution of substance 
was only a quarter of an ounce more than in the last ope- 
ration, to wit, two ounces and a half. This closes the list 
of operations performed on the same individual. The 
three last of the nine cases all endured the same length of 
time, viz. four hours. Nevertheless what great fluctuation 
is discovered in the loss of weight for the respective ope- 
rations ! The loss sustained in the first is three ounces 
and a quarter, in the second one and three quarters, and 
in the third only half an ounce. From these experiments 
therefore it would seem, as if great discrepancy in the du- 
ration of the packing does not necessarily make great dis- 
crepancy in the loss of weight. Although perhaps it may 
be considered as a general principle, that the longer the 
process be protracted, the greater the diminution of bulk 
sustained. 

The following table will give a clear, comprehensive 
view of the duration of each process and the corresponding 
amount of loss of substance : — 



102 THE WET-SHEET DEMONSTRATED TO BE 

No. Duration of bath. Loss of weight, 

h. m. oz. 

1 1 1 

2 1 | 

3 1 10 11 

4 1 30 11 

5 1 40 2| 

6 2 30 21 

7 4 3| 

8 4 If 



9 4 



If now the periods of the duration of each bath be added 
together, they will be found to amount to twenty hours 
and fifty minutes. And if all the quantities lost on the 
respective occasions be treated in the same way, they will 
yield a result of fourteen ounces and a half. This produces 
by a simple calculation an average of about seven-tenths of 
an ounce per hour, or rather more than five drachms and a 
half. But be it observed dictinctly, that when the sheet lasted 
only onehour, it diminished the weight in one case 1 oz.that 
is eight drachms, and in another three quarters of an ounce, 
that is six drachms. This of course produces an average 
of seven drachms. So that by a prolongation of the pro- 
cess the average loss of weight instead of increasing, abso- 
lutely diminishes. Hence the wet-sheet, however pro- 
tracted, does not become a sweating process, unless indeed 
it be allowed that without this protraction, that is in ordi- 
nary circumstances it is a still more powerful sudorific ! 
But no hydropathist for a moment entertains the notion 
that the wet-sheet is usually el sweating process ! 

Yet even if we consider seven drachms as the average 
loss of weight per hour (as deduced from the two first ope- 
rations), we can most readily account for this deficit with- 
the entailment of diaphoresis. An adult man eats and 
drinks daily, but under ordinary circumstances does not 
increase in bulk. Why ? Because as much as he takes 



NEVER A SUDORIFIC OR SWEATING PROCESS. 103 

into his body, just so much is constantly quitting his body. 
The channels by which the food, having fulfilled its pur- 
pose in the economy, escapes therefrom, are the skin, the 
lungs, the kidneys, and the bowels. It was proved experi- 
mentally by a famous physiologist, M. Seguin, that of the 
secretions from these organs about thirty ounces passed 
daily through the skin in the shape of insensible perspira- 
tion. Here then is a perfectly correct and natural loss of 
substance from the skin of more than one ounce per hour. 
Does it not therefore necessarily follow that a person who 
loses merely an ounce, or seven drachms in the wet-sheet 
during an hour, would have lost as much, if not more, out 
of it? 

From all these observations and experiments it appears 
to the author that four rules may be deduced — firstly, that 
the wet-sheet is accompanied by a slight loss of weight ; 
secondly, that this loss of weight would have been pro- 
duced without the wet-sheet ; thirdly, that with increased 
prolongation of the period of packing the loss of weight 
does absolutely, but does not relatively increase ; and 
fourthly therefore that the wet-sheet under no circum- 
stances becomes a sweating process. 

One excellent physiological reason may be rendered for the 
wet-sheet, although a warm bath, not producing perpira- 
tion. An ordinary sudorific bath, as the hot air-bath, the 
vapor-bath, and even the blanket packing, manifests its 
diaphoretic qualities in this manner. First, there is a hot 
atmosphere generated, which encircles the patient's naked 
body. This hot atmosphere gives rise to two important 
consequences. It rarefies, or relaxes the skin, thereby 
rendering that membrane more permeable to the passage 
of fluid. Secondly, it excites the heart and arteries to 
increased energy. These organs, being so stimulated, 
throw the blood into the skin with great vigor, and the 
skin, already softened and easily penetrable, and because 
too from weakness it cannot urge forward the blood with 



104 THE WET-SHEET NEVER A SUDORIFIC. 

the same energy with which it is assailed by it, opens wide 
its pores. Through these the more watery parts of that 
fluid freely transude, and thus the distended membrane is 
relieved. 

Now it is true that by the wet-sheet the surface of the 
body is enveloped in a heated atmosphere. But the 
warmth of that atmosplere is produced so gradually, and is 
at all times so mild, that although it is capable of exerting 
a laxative influence on the skin, it certainly is not capable 
of stimulating the organs of circulation to augmented 
activity. The temperature of the wet-sheet is 92.77° F. 
This is considerably under blood-heat which is 98° F. The 
temperature of the vapor-bath usually rises to at least 
105° F., frequently to 110° F., and sometimes considerably 
higher. The hot-air bath ranges quite as high. With 
regard to the blanket-packing the author has not yet per- 
formed any thermometric experiments. He expects the 
rule will be found to be, that no temperature below that of 
the interior of the body (98° F.) applied to the surface is 
capable of so exciting the heart and arteries, as to pro- 
duce perspiration, unless perhaps it be applied suddenly. 
He has no means at present of demonstrating the truth of 
this statement, but in the mean time ventures to propound 
it as a very tenable theory.* 

* This opinion, developed merely as a rational theory, is now singu- 
larly confirmed by the thermometric experiments performed on the 
process of the blanket-packing. On referring to the chapter devoted to 
that operation it will be perceived that the temperature of the atmosphere 
enveloping the body is invariably above that of blood heat, and therefore 
capable of exciting the organs of circulation to such energetic action, as 
shall produce with the aid of an already relaxed skin a flow of perspira- 
tion. 



CHAPTER III. 



THE DOUCHE. 



In reference to this bath, for obvious reasons there is not 
the same field for investigation and experiment, as there is 
for those of a more complicated character, as the wet-sheet 
packing, and blanket-packing. The author has confined 
himself entirely to the observation of its effects upon the 
pulse, that is the arterial system, and the respiration. To 
speak first of the former, a man weighing ten stones eleven 
pounds, about forty years of age, of an elastic, buoyant 
disposition both of mind and body, received the douche of 
twenty-five feet fall at three p.m., (one hour after dinner) 
for one minute on five successive days in the winter, with 
the following results : — 

FIRST SERIES OF OPERATIONS. 

Pulse before the bath. Pulse after the bath. 

1 88 120 

2 96 124 

3 116 122 

4 86 132 

5 100 120 



5)— 486 total. 5)— 618 total. 



97.2 average. 123.6 average. 

In this series it will be seen, that the pulse was invariably 
accelerated by the douche, and that the average rate of 
speed before the operation was 97.2, and that after it 123.6. 
This shews an average elevation of 26.4 in the minute, for 
p 



1 06 CONTRARY EFFECTS OF THE DOUCHE 

97.2+26.4=123.6. So much for this individual. In him 
the elevation of pulse was constant. 

Another man weighing ten stones eight pounds, (of a 
similar weight therefore,) but of a most inelastic, non- 
buoyant disposition, either corporeal or mental, and about 
thirty years old, was subjected to the same douche for 
the same time, but with very different effects, as the suc- 
ceeding figures will shew : — 

SECOND SERIES OF OPERATIONS. 

Pulse before the bath. Pulse after the bath. 

1 92 74 

2 84 84 

3 104 94 

4 96 96 

5 104 80 

6 106 90 

7 100 96 

8 104 84 

9 96 80 



9)_ 886 total. 9)— 778 total. 



98.44 average. 86.44 average. 

Hence it will be seen that, whereas in the first series of 
operations there was an habitual increase in the number 
of pulsations, in the present series, performed upon 
a different person and one of a different temperament, 
there is just as uniform a diminution. And this too even 
although the average rapidity of the pulse before the ope- 
ration was in both cases nearly identical, being in the one 
97.2, and in the other 98.44. 

The amount of fall in the instance before us will be 
just 12, for 86.44+12=98.44. 

A month afterwards the same individual was again sub- 
jected to the influence of the douche. And curious to 



UPON THE ORGANS OF CIRCULATION. 107 

elate, precisely the opposite effect on the pulse was mani- 
ested. He took the douche four times, and on every 

occasion the speed of the artery increased, as will be seen 

in the subjoined table. 

THIRD SERIES OF OPERATIONS. 

Pulse before the bath. Pulse after the bath. 

1 64 96 

2 56 , 96 

3 80 84 

4 88 108 



4)— 288 total. 4)— 384 total. 



72 average. 96 average. 

96 — 24=72. Here therefore is presented a rise in the 
pulse of 24 beats in the minuute. And yet there have just 
been brought before the reader's eyes a series of experi- 
ments performed only one month before on the same indi- 
vidual in the same state of health, &c, where there was 
exhibited a fall in the pulse of 12 beats in the minute. 
What is the reason of this incongruity ? In the present 
infancy of scientific hydropathy the author confesses 
his ignorance on this point. And as this is essentially 
a work of practical research he will not introduce an hy- 
pothesis. He has not the slightest doubt however that 
further experimental investigation will speedily unravel 
the mystery. 

Besides increasing or dimishing the rapidity of the pulse 
the douche produces sometimes a very decided change in 
the character of the artery. Thus in No. 4 of the first 
series of operations above detailed the pulse not only was 
extremely accelerated, but enlarged in size, became much 
fuller, and pressed the finger in a bounding elastic manner. 
In No. 5 of the same series it also expanded most conspi- 
cuously under the influence of the douche. In Nos. 4, 5, 



108 



UNIFORM EFFECT OF THE DOUCHE 



and 6 of the second series an opposite condition was induced. 
The calibre of the pulse was palpably diminished. The artery 
became contracted. This effect, contraction, the author 
has frequently observed in the employment of other hy- 
dropathic processes, as the shallow bath, the can-douche, 
and so forth. 

It now remains to examine the influence exerted by the 
falling column upon the lungs. For this purpose the same 
person was employed as he, upon whom the last two series 
of operations were performed, and indeed at the same time, 
that is to say as far as they went. The details of this ex- 
perimentary investigation are placed below, as follows : — 

FOURTH SERIES OF OPERATIONS. 



Pulse before 
bath. 

. 104 .. 
. 96 .. 
. 100 .. 



64 

56 
80 

80 



Pulse after 
bath. 

84) g 

80l^ 
96 J <* 




Resp. before Resp. after 
bath. bath. 

. 20 ... 24 



20 

22 

17.5 

20 

24 
20 



20 
28 

32 
32 

32 
36 



Total 7)— 143.5. 7)— 204. 



Average 



20.5 29.14. 



The reader will at once perceive here, that with one excep- 
tion there is constant increased rapidity of breathing. In 
that exception it remains from some casualty unaffected. 
The average acceleration in the minute is 8.64 undulations 
of the chest, for 29.14—8.64=20.5. 

The conditions of the pulse also have been inserted to 
shew clearly, that the falling or rising of the rapidity of 
that artery in no way influences the effect upon the respi- 
ration, which indeed (with of course an exception here and 
there) the author believes to be uniformly accelerated. 



UPON THE ORGANS OF RESPIRATION. 109 

The present uniformity too is the more striking, inasmuch 
as the last four experiments were performed a month after 
the first three, a fact which induced such a contrasting dif- 
ference in respect to the pulse. 

Three confirmatory experiments were performed on a 
young man, twenty years of age, of a sanguine tempera- 
ment, and weighing eight stone. They are thus arranged 
in a tabular form : — 

FIFTH SERIES OF OPERATIONS. 

Pulse before Pulse after Resp. before Resp. after 

bath. bath. bath. bath. 

1 88 96 22 24 

2 96 84 24 26 

3 96 80 24 28 



Total 3)— 280 3)— 260 3)— 70 3)— 78 

Average 93.33 86.66 23.33 26 

In this series, although the pulse is variable, once becoming 
more rapid, and twice more slow, the respiration always is 
increased. The average amount of additional speed is 
2.67 in the minute, since 26—2.67=23.33. 

The average rapidity of the pulse before the bath was 
93.33. After the bath it was 86.66. This produces a di- 
minution of 6,67, for 93.33—6.67=86.66. 

Analysis of the Douche Operations. 

It should be mentioned that the douches employed by the 
author presented a column of water falling about twenty- 
five feet, or a little more. As a general rule a fall of from 
twenty to five and twenty feet is sufficient to answer every 
purpose. By "fall" of course is not meant the distance 
from the extremity of the pipe to the person bathing, but 
the length of the descent all the way from the spring, or 
source of the water. It does not signify at all how near 



110 ANALYSIS OF THE DOUCHE OPERATIONS. 

the bore of the tube, whence issues the stream, is to the 
floor of the apartment, as regards the power or efficacy of 
the douche. As long as it is high enough to admit a man 
of any height beneath it, that is quite sufficient. Indeed 
the mouth of the pipe should not be too high, as the glassy, 
columnar form of the falling water under such circum- 
stances is generally less perfect than otherwise. It is apt 
to become less solid, less compact, more splashing, and ir- 
regular before it reaches the body of the bather. 

The diameter of the column should be diversified. The 
author has six douches, the pipes varying in calibre from 
one inch to two inches and a half. So that he has the 
power of varying the dose, just the same as a medical gen- 
tleman can vary his dose of opium. Of course a body of 
water two inches thick must abstract more heat from a 
person upon whom it descends, than one of only one inch 
diameter. It must therefore be capable of producing a 
more energetic effect. And if it be capable of producing 
a more energetic effect in one circumstance, namely, the 
withdrawal of animal heat, it must also have greater power 
in other matters, as in its influence upon the circulation, 
respiration, &c. In other words it is a larger dose. 

The first series of experiments had reference to the pulse 
alone. So also with regard to the six first of the second 
series. Because at the time that those operations were 
performed, it had not yet occurred to the author to inves- 
tigate the effect of hydropathy upon the organs of respi- 
ration, the lungs. But after that period, in making experi- 
ments upon the douche, the arterial and pulmonary systems 
were always associated together. For an account of the 
states of the respiratory process corresponding to the three 
last operations of the second series, and all those of the 
third, let the reader consult the details of the fourth series. 

Of the four series of operations that had reference to the 
pulsation of the heart and arteries, namely the first, second, 
third, and fifth, it will be perceived that this function was 



THEIR EFFECTS UPON THE PULSE AND RESPIRATION. 1 1 1 

augmented in rapidity twice, and diminished in rapidity 
the same number of times. These four sets of experiments 
were performed on three individuals, two of them conse- 
quently being performed on the same person. On the first 
occasion of the douche operations being undergone by this 
person, namely as exhibited in the second series, the pulse 
fell. On the second occasion, as shewn in the third series, 
the pulse rose. This person was of a dull, phlegmatic 
temperament, the other two being of an elastic, sanguine 
disposition. Here then are two persons of a sanguine 
temperament acted upon by the douche in a different 
manner. One has his pulse exalted, the other's is retarded. 
And here is also a single individual, whose circulation is at 
one time accelerated, at another, although only after a 
month's interval, diminished in rapidity. Hence it follows 
that there is no rule for any specific effect manifested by 
the douche upon the heart and arteries. Its influence upon 
them appears to be regulated by external circumstances, of 
the nature of which we are at present perfectly ignorant. 

With the respiration however it is a totally different 
affair. Not only in every series of experiments, but in 
every individual experiment, but one, this function was 
accelerated. The exception is observed in the second ex- 
periment of the fourth series of operations. It appears 
that here the respiratory movements numbered twenty, 
both before and after the bath. In the above-mentioned 
series the average respiration per minute before the bath, 
was 20.5. After the bath it was 29.14. This betokens a 
difference of 8.64 additional thoracic movements. In the 
fifth series of operations the average respiration before the 
bath was 23.33, that after it 26 per minute, the elevation 
therefore amounting to 2.67. Out of ten experiments in 
none was the respiration diminished, in nine it was raised, 
and in one it remained stationary. 

As a general rule, therefore, it may be considered that 
the douche affects the pulse in different ways, sometimes 



112 BOTH PULSE AND RESPIRATION ARE EXCITED. 

raising it, and sometimes depressing it, but that the respi- 
ration is always influenced in the same direction, namely in 
being accelerated. 

The beneficial effects resulting from this physiological 
arrangement can scarcely be exaggerated. Sufficient has 
been said in the first and second chapters concerning the 
advantage accruing to an increased activity in the respi- 
ratory process, independent of, and unaccompanied by 
the same augmentation in the pulsation of the heart and 
arteries. 

But it may perhaps now occur to the reader that in those 
cases of the douche application, where additional frequency 
of the pulse is associated with the exalted respiration, these 
before-mentioned excellent results would be neutralized. 
Far however is this from the fact. Let the reader refer to 
the fourth series of operations. He will there discover, 
that rise as the respiration does when the pulse falls, it 
rises infinitely higher, when there is any augmentation in 
the latter. And it is on account of this increased rapidity 
in both circulation and respiration together, that of the 
last-named prevailing in extent over the first, that the pecu- 
liarly exhilarating, buoyant effect, so frequently following 
the douche, is occasioned. The author will endeavour to 
explain this clearly, 

Man is constantly in a state of change. In this respect 
he resembles every thing around him — the state of society 
— the world — the whole universe. It is essential to his 
existence and to his health. Every part of his body is 
continually undergoing transformation. New tissue is 
being perpetually laid down, and old tissue perpetually 
carried away. It is the maintenance of this process of 
repair, as it may be called, in a well-regulated manner, 
that constitutes the blessing of health. And it is by the 
blood that these tissues are deposited, and by the blood 
also that, when they have discharged their office in the 
animal economy, they are removed. Now it is the heart 



THE DOUCHE PRODUCES AN EXCESS OF HEALTH. 113 

and arteries that transmit the blood thither, and for that 
object; and it is the lungs that effect the purification of 
that fluid, thereby rendering it fit for the office. Hence 
it follows that the more blood that there is conveyed to a 
part, and the purer it is in its nature, the more quickly and 
the more efficiently this state of change, this repairing, is 
conducted. And the more the activity of the heart, blood- 
vessels, and lungs is stimulated, the more and the purer the 
blood will be, that is so transmitted for the construction 
and demolition of tissue, that is, to effect the healthy change. 
But the douche produces this effect, imparting vigor and 
rapidity as it does to the organs of circulation and respira- 
tion* Ergo, as perfect health consists in the correct fulfil- 
ment of this repairing function, the douche may be said to 
approximate a man's condition to that inestimable and 
almost unknown blessing, perfect health. Hence those 
light elastic feelings, that gladsome exhilaration, that pleas- 
ing aspect of worldly things, that spirit of buoyancy both 
in body and mind, that so frequently follow this invaluable 
bath. In fact, for the time being the person may be said 
to enjoy perfect health. Yet so strange is it to him, who 
has never known this happy state, (and who in the present 
day does know it ?) that he cannot understand it. According 
to our general and civilized notion of health, it may with 
propriety be looked upon as excess of health. Thrice happy 
the man, however, in whom this excess may be allowed to 
grow and flourish ! 

Such excellent results not uncommonly attach themselves 
to the hydropathic treatment generally, independent of 
the douche. When this is the case, it is for the same 
reason, applied of course to some other bath or system of 
baths. But, as before mentioned, the douche is the one 
after which this felicitous condition is most marked. 

Now were the pulse alone accelerated, or the pulse and 
respiration merely accelerated in an equal degree, the 
results would not be so successful. For under the cir- 



114 THE DOUCHE PURIFIES THE BLOOD. 

cumstances of the first case more blood would be driven 
into the lungs than those organs (their activity not being 
increased in a manner corresponding to that of the heart) 
would be capable of purifying. It would therefore it is 
true be carried to the tissues in greater abundance than 
before, but it would be in an impure, un-decarbonized 
state. So far therefore from being in a fit state to invigo- 
rate the change of matter, by its unhealthy properties it 
would be calculated to retard that function. Under the 
circumstances of the second case, namely where the circu- 
lation and respiration are promoted in an equal degree, a 
certain amount of good beyond a doubt would be achieved. 
More blood (not deteriorated in quality, as in the last- 
mentioned instance) would be circulated, or rather there 
would be a more frequent accession of blood to the various 
structures. And this without question would be attended 
with benefit. Yet the great thing of all would be wanting 
— the additional purity of the blood. The latter of course 
is only to be acquired by the activity of the lungs being 
excited still more than that of the organs of circulation. 
Now if the reader will have the goodness to refer to the 
fourth series of operations, he will not only perceive that 
however the pulse fluctuates, the respiratory process 
always (except once) becomes quickened, but he will dis- 
cover moreover that, when and however much the circula- 
tion may be accelerated, the number of times of breathing, 
will be, not actually of course but, proportionally still 
more accelerated. Hence therefore under the influence of 
the douche not only is the blood conveyed into the different 
structures with greater freedom, but that fluid is also of a 
better quality, more rosy, more full of oxygen, more fit 
for its all-important duty, and capable of producing a 
better material in the frame-work of the body. Hence 
also follows that incomparable feeling of a better existence, 
to which the author has before alluded. 

Probably the reader has either inhaled himself, or wit- 



RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN THE DOUCHE AND LAUGHING GAS. 115 

nessed the effects of its inhalation in others, that well- 
known intoxicating agent, laughing gas. This aeriform 
fluid is composed of one atom or equivalent of oxygen, 
and the same amount of nitrogen, chemically united. Its 
constituent elements therefore are very nearly the same as 
those of common atmospheric air. But there is this 
great difference ; whereas in the air we generally breathe 
there is only present one part of oxygen for four of nitro- 
gen, in the laughing gas, or protoxide of nitrogen, as it is 
designated in chemical language, these ingredients are com- 
bined in equal proportions. Now the author believes he 
has somewhere in this work already mentioned, that the 
object of the existence of nitrogen in the atmosphere we 
breathe, is merely for the sake of diluting the oxygen — 
that it fulfills no useful purpose itself in the functions of 
the animal economy — and that the last-named gas, if undi- 
luted, so far from being of vital service in the maintenance 
of health, would speedily put a period to existence. But 
when oxygen is diluted with only one equivalent of 
nitrogen, as is the case with laughing gas, it does not, when 
inspired, produce so quickly a fatal effect. It speedily 
however generates slight intoxication. And this intoxi- 
cation is remarkable for being of a pleasant description. 
Whatever strange fancies, or feelings may spring out of it, 
they are nearly always of an agreeable character. It is 
from the fact of immoderate fits of laughter, (which itself is 
a proof of the happy frame of mind of the individual under 
its influence) so frequently resulting from its employment, 
that it has received the soubriquet of " laughing-gas." 
One of the commonest ideas that arise is that the person 
is lifted off his feet, and soars among the clouds on pinions. 
Another places him in the Elysian fields with his attendant 
houri. But whatever wild thoughts flit through the 
imagination, they are for the most part of an exceedingly 
happy nature. 

Now the douche in its effects may be likened to laughing 



116 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DOUCHE AND LAUGHING GAS. 

gas, but of course in a modified and infinitely milder form. 
And laughing-gas may be likened in its results to the 
douche much intensified. But as the sublime, and the 
ridiculous stand separated only by a slight intervening 
space, so the results manifested by this gas and those mani- 
fested by the douche, so similar in their nature, represent 
respectively, — -the first disease — the second perfect health. 
The reason that the first amounts to disease, while the other 
does not go beyond the limit of health, is two-fold. 

Firstly, in the case of laughing-gas, there is a larger 
quantity of oxygen admitted suddenly ; secondly its quan- 
tity is excessive. By means of the douche neither can its 
quantity be excessive, nor can imperfectly diluted oxygen 
be admitted at all, suddenly or otherwise. Whereas, if the 
effects of the laughing-gas were to continue, they would 
prove fatal, the buoyancy and elasticity imparted by the 
douche not only may continue without injury to the system., 
but will of course prolong life. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE DRY OR BLANKET-PACKING. 

The following operations were performed on the same 
persons as the wet-sheet packing. For an account there- 
fore of their natural constitutions and other peculiarities 
the author begs to refer the reader to the last-mentioned 
process. 

The apparatus consisted of six blankets and a feather bed. 

To ascertain the temperature of the bath as accurately 
as possible a thermometer was placed at the commencement 
of the packing over the arm, but separated from the skin 
by one thickness of blanket. 

If the reader will refer to the preliminary remarks 
affixed to the description of the wet-sheet packing, there 
will be no necessity for further explanatory observations 
in this place. Merely remarking then, that the first six 
operations were undergone by the man of phlegmatic tem- 
perament, and the remainder by him of the excitable one, 
I shall at once detail the experiments. 



FIRST SERIES OF OPERATIONS, PERFORMED ON AN 
INDIVIDUAL OF PHLEGMATIC TEMPERAMENT. 

Operation I. 

of four hours duration. 

Pulse, Respiration, 

per minute. per minute. 

Before the process... 92 19 

After 1 hour 60 16) feels warm but not 

After 2 hours 60 16 J moist. 

f feels warm and is 

After 3 hours 60 16 < beginning to feel 

(moist. 



1V8 EXPERIMENTS ON THE BLANKET-PACKING. 

Pulse, Respiration, 

per minute. per minute. 

After 4 hours 70 18 The forehead is 

In shallow-bath ... 60 — '• beaded with drops 

In drying-sheet ... 72 — of perspiration. He 

feels in a profuse 
perspiration. 

Temperature outside the blanket nearest to the skin 
102° F. 

Temperature of the water in the shallow-bath raised 
from 49.75° F. to 52.50° F. 



st. lb. oz. 
Weight prior to the operation 10 11 11 J 

Weight subsequent to the operation 10 10 14§ 



Loss... 12f 

The behaviour of the pulse and respiration in this 
operation is curiously symmetrical with regard to each 
other. It will be seen that the second, third, and fourth 
figures in the first column are the same, and the corres- 
ponding figures in the second column also the same, and 
that both trios are of a lower denomination than the 
figure at the head of the row. The pulse fell 32 beats in 
the minute before the expiration of the first hour and 
remained at the same point till after the expiration of the 
third hour, and till the bather was beginning to perspire. 
It then rose ten beats. The respiration sunk in the same 
manner from nineteen to sixteen (which be it remembered 
is not near so much in proportion) before the termination 
of one hour, and continued at sixteen to the end of the 
third, when it increased simultaneously with the pulse. 
The effect of the shallow-bath and drying-sheet upon the 
respiration the author was unavoidably prevented from 
ascertaining in this operation. 

While the pulse subsided 32 beats out of 92, that is 



EXPERIMENTS ON THE BLANKET-PACKING. 119 

more than J the original number, the respiration was 
diminished only 3 in 19, that is less than J the original 
number. In proportion to the pulse this is less than half 
to one. 

Operation II. 
Of four hours' duration. 

Pulse, Bespiration, 

per minute. per minute. 

Before the process... 80 18 

After 1 hour 50 15 

After 2 hours 53 17 

After 3 hours 56 17 no perspiration yet. 

After 4 hours 60 17 forehead beaded with 

In shallow-bath 60 17 drops of perspira- 

In drying-sheet 64 17 tion ; feels in a pro- 
fuse perspiration. 

Temperature outside the blanket nearest to the skin 
102° F. 

Temperature of the water in the shallow-bath raised 
from 47° F. to 49° F. 

st. lb. oz. 

Weight prior to the operation 10 12 7J 

Weight subsequent to the operation 10 1 1 4 

Loss... 1 3J 

It is interesting to observe, that in this operation and the 
last there is nearly the same amount of subsidence of the 
pulse, viz., in the one case 30 and in the other 32 beats in the 
minute, at the expiration of the first hour, although there 
is a wide difference between its rapidity before the process 
in the two instances. It is still more curious to discover 
that precisely the same thing occurs with regard to the res- 
piration, and with still greater exactitude. But here the 



120 EXPERIMENTS ON THE BLANKET-PACKING. 

analogy between the two operations ceases. Whereas in 
the first both pulse and respiration remained at a stand- 
still for three hours : in the last they began to quicken 
after the first hour, the pulse continuing to do so, but the 
respiration becoming stationary after the first elevation, 
and remaining so to the end of the process, during four 
consecutive experiments. 





Operation III. 




Of four hours' duration. 


Pulse, Respiration, 
per minute, per minute. 

Before the process... 72 24 


After 1 hour ..., 


50 18 


After 2 hours.. 


48.5 16 


After 3 hours... 


51.5 18 


After 4 hours..., 


, 60 18 forehead beaded with 


In shallow-bath , 


60 18 drops of perspira- 


In drying-sheet . 


72 SO tion. 



Temperature outside the blanket nearest to the skin 
102° F. 

Temperature of the water in the shallow-bath raised 
from 50.75° F. to 52.75° F. 

st. lb. oz. 

Weight prior to the operation... 10 10 9 

Weight subsequent to the operation 10 10 3 



Loss... 6 

Operation IV. 
Of four hours' duration. 



Pulse, 
per minute. 
Before the process ... 92 .. 

After 1 hour 62 .. 


Eespiration. 
per minute. 

19.5 

.... 17 


After 2 hours 60 


.... 17 


After 3 hours 58 .. 


.... 17 



EXPERIMENTS ON THE BLANKET- PACKING. 121 

Pulse, Respiration, 

per minute. per minute. 

After 4 hours 66 17 forehead beaded with 

In shallow-bath 60 21 drops of perspira- 

In drying-sheet 72 24 tion. 

Temperature outside the blanket nearest to the skin 
102° F. 

Temperature of the water in the shallow-bath raised 
from 52.50° F. to 54.50° F, 

st. lb. oz. 

Weight prior to the operation 10 10 15| 

Weight subsequent to the operation 10 9 13f 



Loss .. 12 

Operation V. 
Of four hours' duration. 

Pulse, Respiration, 

per minute. per minute. 

Before the process ... 76 24 

After 1 hour 56 19 neither warm nor cold 

After 2 hours 54 19 i.e. tolerably warm. 

After 3 hours 56 19 feels moist all over. 

After 4 hours 68 ,- 34 forehead beaded with 

In shallow-bath 72 24 drops of perspira- 

In drying-sheet 84 28 tion, face red, and 

veins turgid. 

Temperature outside the blanket nearest to the skin 
101.5° F. 

Temperature of the water in the shallow-bath raised 
from 53.75° F. to 55.00° F. 

st. lb. oz. 

Weight prior to the operation 10 11 O5 

Weight subsequent to the operation 10 10 4 J 

Loss.... \2 



122 EXPERIMENTS ON THE BLANKET-PACKING. 

Operation VI. 

Of four hours' duration. 

Pulse, Kespiration, 

per minute. per minute. 

Before the process.... 84 21 comfortable, but not 

After 1 hour 57 16 getting moist, [warm. 

After 2 hours 56 18 

After 3 hours 56 18 

After 4 hours. 64 18 forehead beaded with 

In shallow-bath 72 22 drops of perspira- 

In drying-sheet 84 22 tion. 

Temperature outside the blanket nearest to the skin 
102° F. 

Temperature of the water in the shallow-bath raised 
from 54.75° F. to 56.00° F. 

st. lb. oz. 

Weight prior to the operation 10 7 lOf 

Weight subsequent to the operation 10 6 14 



Loss.... 12| 

The foregoing six operations were undergone by the 
same person, viz., him of the phlegmatic constitution, to 
whom frequent allusion has been made. Those that follow 
were conducted on a different individual, and one, as 
before-mentioned, of an excitable temperament. 



EXPERIMENTS ON THE BLANKET-PACKING. 123 

SECOND SERIES OF OPERATIONS PERFORMED ON AN 
INDIVIDUAL OF SANGUINE TEMPERAMENT. 

Operation VII. 

Of two hours and a half's duration. 

Pulse, Respiration, 

per minute. per minute. 

Before the process.... 116 ........ 22.5 

/feet perspiring, ge- 
After 1 hour 71 21 < nerally warm and 

Vmoist. 

{feels quite hot and 
the forehead. 
A^ hours 80 fcjEgftStS 

In the shallow-bath 88 

In drying-sheet 132 

Temperature outside the blanket nearest to the skin 
99° F. 

Temperature of the water in the shallow-bath raised 
from 51.00° F. to 52.00' T. 

st. lb. oz. 

Weight prior to the operation 7 13 8| 

Weight subsequent to the operation 7 12 15 J 



Loss.... 9 

In this operation is extremely well shown how the effect 
of the different parts of the process may be modified by 
the natural temperament of the individual. The nervous 
impressionability of the present bather is illustrated by the 
contrasting variations of the pulse, and particularly by its 
exalted state at the termination of the process. It is here 
seen to be sixteen beats higher than at the commencement, 



124 EXPEKIMENTS ON THE BLANKET-PACKING. 

unusually high as it even then was. In operation II. a pre- 
cisely contrary condition of things will be noticed. In that 
example the process commences with a pulse beating 
eighty times in the minute, and terminates with sixty-four. 
It has fallen just sixteen beats ! But then the natural dis- 
position of the man, physical and mental, was phlegmatic, 
or if the author may be permitted without offence an 
exceedingly apt expression, cold-blooded. Hence beyond 
a doubt it follows, that the effect of hydropathic measures 
may be very much modified by the inherent temperament 
of the individual. 

Operation VIII. 

Of two hours and a half's duration. 

Pulse, Eespiration, 

per minute. per minute. 

Before the process.... 97 22 

After 1 hour 70 17.5 

After 2 hours 72 20 

After 2\ hours 72 20 forehead beaded. 

In shallow-bath 84 28 

In drying-sheet 120 

Temperature outside the blanket nearest to the skin 
101° F. 

Temperature of the water in the shallow-bath raised 
from 51.00° F. to 52.00° F. 

st. lb. oz. 

Weight prior to the operation 8 9 J 

Weight subsequent to the operation.... 8 1 



Loss.... 8| 

The fluctuation of the pulse again in this operation, 
namely the primary depression of 27 beats below, and the 



EXPEEIMENTS ON THE BLANKET-PACKING. 125 

final elevation of 23 beats above, the original amount of 
speed per minute, denote unmistakeably the impressiona- 
bility of this bather's constitutional temper. 

Operation IX. 
Of two hours and a half's duration. 





Pulse, 


Eespiration, 




per minute. 


per minute. 


Before the process. 


... 100 ... 


20 


After 1 hour 


... 66 ... 


22 


After 2 hours 


... 74 ..., 


qq (beginning to Pers- 
ia pire generally. 


After 2 \ hours 


... 76 .... 


.... 32 forehead beaded with 


In shallow-bath 


... 80 .... 


.... 28 drops of perspira- 


In drying-sheet 


... 104 .... 


.... 32 tion. 



Temperature outside the blanket nearest to the skin 
100° F. 

Temperature of the water in the shallow bath raised 
from 53.00° F. to 54.00° F. 

st. lb. oz. 

Weight prior to the operation 8 14| 

Weight subsequent to the operation 8 8| 



Loss.... 61 



On casting an eye over the figures of this operation, the 
reader will be at once struck with a great peculiarity and 
exception to the general rule. The author alludes to the 
exalted numbers under the head of respiration, where it 
will be observed, that, contrary to hitherto experience, all 
the other figures exceed in magnitude the first, viz. that 
which speaks of its rate of performance before the com- 
mencement of the process. 



126 EXPERIMENTS ON THE BLANKET-PACKING. 

Operation X. 
Of two hours and a half's duration. 

Pulse, Respiration, 

per minute. per minute. 

Before the process.... 104 25 

After 1 hour. 70 24 

After 2 hours 76 2\ forehead beaded 

After 2\ hours 92 30 with drops of per- 

In shallow bath 88 26 spiration. 

In drying-sheet 106 28 

Temperature outside the blanket nearest to the skin 
100° F. 

Temperature of the water in the shallow bath raised 
from 53.00° F. to 65.50° F. 

st. lbs. oz. 

Weight prior to the operation 7 13 10| 

Weight subsequent to the operation. 7 13 3 

Loss 7| 

Operation XI. 
Of two hours and a half's duration. 

Pulae, Respiration, 

per minute. per minute. 

Before the process.... 96 2\ 

After 1 hour 64 19 feet quite cold. 

After 2 hours 73 26 warm all over. 

After 2\ hours 72 30 forehead beadedwith 

In shallow bath 96 36 drops of perspira- 

In drying sheet 100 28 tion. 

Temperature outside the blanket, nearest the skin, 
100° F. 



ANALYSIS OF THE BLANKET OPEEATIONS. 127 

Temperature of the water in the shallow bath raised 
from 55.00* F. to 56.00° F. 

st. lbs. oz. 

Weight prior to the operation 8 1 4J 

Weight subsequent to the operation. 8 13$ 



Loss.... 7 

Analysis of the Dry-Packing Operations. 

The rapidity of the pulse before the commencement of the 
process of packing for the whole eleven operations is re- 
presented by the following figures beginning with the first 
and ending with the last, 92, 80, 72, 92, 76, 84, 116, 97, 
100, 104, 96, each one signifying the number of beats per 
minute. These figures produce an average for each opera- 
tion of 91.72 pulsations for each operation. 

The rate of speed of the pulse after the first hour will 
be represented beginning with the first operation thus, 
60, 50, 50, 62, 56, 57, 71, 70, 66, 70, 64. And these 
figures yield an average of 61.45 beats per minute for each 
experiment. Hence between the commencement of the 
packing and the termination of the first hour there occurs 
a subsidence in the heart and arteries of 30.27 beats in the 
minute. And this may with fairness be* considered the 
average depression of the pulse in the blankets, when the 
pulse before the process ranges as high as 91 or 92. To 
proceed however with the description of the effect of these 
operations upon the circulating organs it will be necessary 
now to separate them into two divisions, viz. according to 
the temperament of the individuals receiving them. For 
it will be discovered that in the first six operations the 
pulse at the termination of the second hour is about the 
same as, indeed rather lower than, at the end of the first, 
whereas in the last five the pulse will average less rapidity 
at the end of the first hour than at the end of the second. 



1 28 ANALYSIS OF THE BLANKET OPERATIONS. 

By and by this will be shewn to be a matter of considerable 
importance. 

The figures representing the rapidity of the pulse in the 
first six operations at the end of the second hour are 60, 
53, 48.5, 60, 54, 56. These will manifest an average of 
55.25 for each operation. In the same operations at the 
termination of the first hour, the figures, (which are to be 
separated from the list in the last paragraph,) are as fol- 
lows :— 60, 50, 50, 62, 56 and 57. Of these the average 
pulse for each operation would be 55.83. Hence it ap- 
pears that in these operations between the first and second 
hour there was a variation in the minute of only fifty-eight 
hundredths of a beat ! Not so however with regard to the 
remaining five operations. 

The figures in the latter denoting the rate of speed of 
the pulse per minute at the termination of the first hour 
are 71, 70, 66, 70, and 64. The average for each opera- 
tion resulting from them is 68.20. Now the figures that 
represent the state of the pulse after the second hour are 
higher, as will be seen in the following, 77, 72, 74, 76, 73. 
These produce an average of 74.40. Hence therefore in 
these operations upon the sanguine temperament there is 
an elevation at the end of the second hour of 6.2 beats in 
the minute. In the first six processes however there was 
under the same circumstances a diminution of S of a 
beat. What is the reason of this discrepancy ? We shall 
see immediately. 

In the six first operations the numbers of the pulsations 
of the heart after three hours were respectively 60, 56, 
51.5, 58, 56, 56. Here is seen for each operation the ave- 
rage 56.25. So that, the corresponding amount at the ter- 
mination of the second hour being 55.25, there is thus 
revealed an increase of one beat in the minute. What is 
the meaning of this increase ? We shall see immediately. 

At the conclusion of the packing the pulse in the same 
operations stood thus, 70, 60, 60, 66, 68, 64, manifesting 



STATISTICS CONCERNING THE PULSE. 129 

a much higher average than at any previous hour since the 
commencement of the process, to wit 64.66. It has there- 
fore risen since the last examination no less than 8.41 beats 
in the minute. 

The last five operations continued only two hours and a 
half. The figures therefore, that must be compared with 
those of the last paragraph, are those representing the 
pulse at the termination of that period. They are these, 
80, 72, 76, 22, 72. The average derived from these num- 
bers will be 78.40. The average rapidity of pulse after 
the second hour in these operations was 74.40. Here then 
is a farther elevation of 4 beats in the minute. What sig- 
nifies this elevation of the pulse at the finale of both di- 
visions of the experiments equally ? We shall see imme- 
diately. In the meanwhile every one of these results is 
possessed of such high physiological interest, that the 
author is induced to arrange them in a tabular form, in 
order that the reader's eye may comprehend the whole at 
a glance. 

EIEST SERIES. SECOND SERIES. 

Average state of the pulse per minute. 

Before the process 82.66 102.60 

After one hour 55.83 68.20 

After two hours 55.25 74.40 

After two hours and a half 78.40 

After three hours 56.25 

After four hours 64.66 

On inspecting this table the thing, that will probably and 
immediately arrest the reader's attention, will be the simul- 
taneous depression in both series at the expiration of a 
single hour. In the first series this diminution amounts 
to 26.83 pulsations in the minute. In the second it reaches 
the still more considerable number, 34.40. What can be 
the cause of this very great subsidence ? By referring to 
the details of the experiments the reader will see, that up 
s 



1 30 EXPERIMENTS ON THE EFFECT OF POSTURE 

to this period no particular notice has been taken of any 
sensations. Indeed this matter has been mentioned but 
four times at the conclusion of the first hour. The first 
report was to the effect that the patient was " warm, but 
not moist," the second that the patient was " comfortable 
but not warm," the third that the "feet were perspiring," 
and the body was " generally warm and moist," and the 
fourth that "the feet were quite cold." It may be stated 
therefore as a general result, that as yet, with regard to 
the sensations, no particular effects had been produced. 
The author in consequence at once attributed this universal 
and strongly-marked reduction of the pulse to the hori- 
zontal position and perfect quietude of the body, that 
were of course maintained. 

To confirm this view the author had recourse to the fol- 
lowing personal experiment. He first stood up perfectly 
erect for five minutes, after having been previously en- 
gaged in writing, and therefore of course in the sitting 
posture. He then, having first noted the state of the 
pulse at the expiration of the five minutes, sat down for 
the same length of period. He then again examined his 
pulse, and finally lay down for five minutes. Having 
counted his pulse a third time he repeated the whole thing. 
By the way he omitted to say that he instituted the same 
inquiries into the state of his respiration. This was about 
the 23rd of February. A week afterwards he repeated 
the experiments. The results obtained from the two ope- 
rations may be arranged in a tabular form together. 

FIRST EXPERIMENT, FEB. 23rd. 

Pulse. Respiration. 

After standing 5 minutes .... 67 13 

After sitting 5 minutes 60 15.5 

After lying 5 minutes 48 15 

After standing 5 minutes 64 16 

After sitting 5 minutes 54 18 

After lying 5 minutes 49 15 



ITOX THE CIRCULATION AND EE8PIRATIOX. 131 

SECOND EXPERIMENT, MAECH 1st. 

Pulse. Respiration. 

After standing 5 minutes .... 72 18 

After sitting 5 minutes 68 17.5 

After lying 5 minutes 56 15 

After standing 5 minutes .... 68 17 

After sitting 5 minutes 61 , 15 

After lying 5 minutes 54 12.5 

After standing 5 minutes .... 66 18.5 



D 



It will be perceived in both these experiments, that in a 
comparison of the three postures, beginning of course 
with the standing one, and embracing the two next follow T - 
ing, the pulse is invariably the most rapid in the erect po- 
sition and the least so in the recumbent one. This is the 
undeviating rule then, most satisfactorily and unequivocally 
proved — -that cceteris paribus, if a person who has been 
standing sits down, without any other influence his pulse 
falls, and if he then lie down, it falls still lower — and of 
course vice versa, if a person, who has been reclining, rise 
into the sitting posture, his pulse is elevated, and if he then 
stand up erect, it is still more elevated. And this is quite 
independent of the temporary excitement of moving. For 
expressly to obviate this objection, the pulse was on no 
occasion examined till after the expiration of five minutes, 
that is, till after such a time as that all such excitement 
would be allayed, and perfect quietude of body, whatever 
posture it should assume, would be ensured. 

In these physiological effects produced by posture the 
respiration does not share with the pulse its remarkable 
constancy. Yet the author has little doubt that the same 
general rule holds good with regard to the lungs, as to the 
arterial system. In the second experiment the reader will 
observe that these organs obey the same rule in every re- 
spect as perfectly as the pulsation of the heart. But in 
the preceding operation there certainly exists considerable 
discrepancy in this matter with the respiratory process. 



132 PEIMAKY DEPKESSJON AND SUBSEQUENT 

As resulting from these experiments the author entertains 
not the remotest hesitation in announcing his conviction, 
that the great depression of the pulse experienced after 
lying for the first hour in the blanket-packing is due en- 
tirely to the effect of posture, and of posture alone. And 
in the first series of operations the still further subsidence 
of the pulse at the end of the second hour is beyond a 
question to be ascribed to a continuation of the same in- 
fluence. 

Having now dispatched these matters it is time to answer 
the question, " What is the reason that at the termination 
of three hours in the first series, and of two hours in the 
second series of operations, there is manifested a most un- 
equivocal acceleration of the pulse ?" The solution is most 
easy. The author endeavoured so to arrange the period 
of lying enveloped in the blankets, and so to adapt it to 
the constitution of each individual, that in both cases the 
time of duration of the sweating should be as nearly as 
possible the same. And he believes he succeeded in this 
object, the time the perspiration lasted being about three 
quarters of an hour. Now that perspiration is both pro- 
duced and maintained by increased activity of the heart 
and arteries, whose external manifestation is an accelerated 
pulse. Hence therefore we can readily understand both 
how in the six first operations, (where the individual 
undergoing the process required one hour and a half longer 
than he of the five last experiments, to produce the same 
effect, viz., three quarters of an hour's sweating), we can 
understand how in these operations it should be discovered 
that after three hours, that is just a quarter of an hour 
before the commencement of the sweating the pulse should 
begin to increase in rapidity, as it does. It is just one beat 
quicker than it was when last examined. Hence also we 
can understand how in the last five experiments at the 
termination of two hours, that is, about a quarter of an 
hour after the commencement of perspiration, it should be 



ELEVATION OF PULSE IN THE BLANKET-PACKING. 133 

considerably more accelerated, than when last examined. 
And we accordingly find that it has gained since that occa- 
sion 6.2 beats in the minute. Hence moreover we must 
necessarily comprehend how it happens, that in both series 
of operations equally the circulation should display still 
greater increase in rapidity at the termination of the pack- 
ing. In the first series this elevation numbers 8.41 arterial 
pulsations, in the second just 4 in the minute. 

The effect of the shallow-bath upon the pulse in the 
first series is — twice to depress it, twice to elevate it, and 
twice to leave it unaffected. It is therefore most consistent 
in its inconsistency. In the second series of experiments 
this bath diminishes the rapidity of the pulse once, and 
augments it four times. In both divisions the drying-sheet 
produces universally the same result, namely accelera- 
tion. 

The temperature of the atmosphere surrounding the 
body, and within the blankets, is singularly uniform, more 
especially in reference to the first series of operations. In 
these six experiments with only one exception it was un- 
varied. The thermometer always stood at 102° F. And 
in the case of the exception there was only half a degree 
of variation, the temperature being on that occasion 101.5° 
F. In the second series it is not quite so constant. It 
first stood at 99° F., then at 101° F., and then three times 
at 100° F. The thermometer ranged therefore between 
the two extremes, 99° F. and 102° F. Now the natural 
temperature of the blood is 98° F. That therefore gene- 
rated by the blanket-packing is always slightly higher than 
blood heat. Having now summed up all the particulars 
concerning the pulse at different stages of the process, the 
temperature of the operation, &c, it will be fit to describe 
the modus operandi of the blanket-packing, and to draw a 
comparison between it and sundry other sudorific baths, as 
the hot air and vapor. 

When a person is closely packed in six blankets, one at 



134 THE PHYSIOLOGICAL OPEEATION OF 

a time, adjusted so as to fit accurately about the throat and 
feet, it may be easily supposed that the envelope so formed 
is tolerably air-tight. This indeed is the pivot upon which 
the whole operation turns. If the individual be not well 
tucked in so as, if the author may be allowed the expres- 
sion, to hermetically seal him up, all diaphoretic action is 
impossible. For some time then the patient so lies, simply 
air-tight, but without the production of any obvious effect. 
His pulse is unaffected (after of course the first great de- 
pression wrought by the influence of the recumbent posi- 
tion) ; he is neither particularly warm nor particularly cold ; 
no sensations of either pleasant or unpleasant character have 
supervened. All this time however the process has been 
doing its work silently, but surely. The animal heat, that is 
being constantly disengaged from the skin, has been all this 
time being liberated from the cutaneous pores. Unable to 
penetrate the impervious blanket wrappings, it has of course 
remained stationary, enveloping the membrane from which it 
has been discharged. This natural disengagement of heat is 
comparatively a slow process. This stage of the operation 
therefore is certainly a slow one. But gradually now the 
patient begins to experience a slightly warm and moistish, 
or clammy sensation. This is owing to the relaxing influ- 
ence of the accumulating heat upon the skin. Still as yet 
there is neither a flow of perspiration, nor is the pulse ac- 
celerated. At last however so much caloric has been elimi- 
nated from the surface of the body, that the temperature of 
its surrounding hermetically-sealed atmosphere surmounts 
that of the blood. It becomes more elevated than 98° F. Im- 
mediately a change is manifested. The temperature has now 
attained sufficient power to stimulate the organs of circu- 
lation. The heart increases in activity. The pulse there- 
fore is accelerated, and the circulation every where rendered 
more vigorous. By this means of course blood is poured 
with greater profusion into the skin. That membrane is 
already relaxed with the previous heat. No sooner there- 



THE BLANKET-PACKING IN INDUCING PERSPIRATION. 135 

fore do its dilated pores receive this augmented influx of 
fluid, than their gaping orifices discharge it freely. In this 
way the surrounding air, by the addition of this warm, 
cutaneous vapor, becomes still more elevated in tempera- 
ture. The organs of circulation therefore are urged by a 
still greater stimulus. The perspiration still more increases. 
The patient soon feels wet. Large bead-like drops are ob- 
served upon the forehead. And so the operation goes on, 
till it is thought expedient to bring it to a termination. 
The patient is then put into a shallow-bath for the sake 
of constringing the relaxed skin, and shutting up the open 
mouths of the perspiration-pores, in order that the latter 
may not continue to exude moisture ; as they otherwise 
would, for an indefinite time. For were the skin suffered 
to remain in the tender, soft, and relaxed state, in which 
it leaves the blankets, and were the perspiration allowed 
to continue draining from it for an indefinite period with- 
out attempt at checking it, the patient would be rendered 
extremely liable to take cold, and moreover great exhaus- 
tion and debility would probably follow. It may be dis- 
tinctly laid down as an almost universal law, that every 
hot bath, that is general sudorific bath, applied to the 
whole surface of the body, should be followed by a cold 
ablution. By cold the author does not mean to convey, 
that the water must be necessarily of the natural tempera- 
ture. He means cold in comparison with the heated at- 
mosphere from which the patient has just emerged. Cases 
occur where it is not expedient to administer a perfectly 
cold bath after a hot one. Under these circumstances water 
of a temperature of 60°, 65°, or even 70° F. would be cold 
by contrast to the preceding hot application. 

The effect of the immersion of the body in the shallow- 
bath, in raising its temperature, need not be discussed here, 
as the same subject is fully treated in the chapter appro- 
priated to the shallow bath. 

In the first series of operations the amount of weight 



136 EFFECT OF THE BLANKET-PACKING UPON THE WEIGHT. 

lost by the process of sweating is as follows, for each ex- 
periment, commencing with the first : 12f oz., 1 lb. 3| oz., 
6 oz., 1 lb. 2 oz., 12 oz., 12f oz. The average quantity 
therefore for each operation would be 13 \ oz. The reason 
that the same person at one time loses in weight nineteen 
ounces and a half, and at another time only six ounces, 
(not so much as one-third of that quantity,) the author is 
not yet in a condition to explain. In the second series of 
operations the numbers representing the loss of weight, 
beginning with the first experiment, are these : 9 oz., 8 J 
oz., 6J oz., 7§ oz., and 7 oz. Here an average is obtained 
of only 7| oz., which is seen to be a quantity much inferior 
to that of the first series of packings. From a comparison 
of these two results a general average of 10 J oz. may be 
deduced. This then may be considered about the ordinary 
amount a person loses in substance by lying in the blankets 
about the usual length of time. And the blanket packing 
may be considered essentially a sudorific apparatus. 

From this marked sudorific property, it might be with 
reason supposed, and indeed very generally is supposed, 
that the blanket was a reducing agent per se. This however 
is quite a mistake, as proved by these experiments. If the 
reader will refer to operation the seventh, he will perceive 
that the individual there weighed at the commencement of 
the process, and at the commencement of his series of 
packings, 7 st. 13 lbs. 8 J oz. By now directing his eye to 
the termination of the eleventh experiment, he will find 
that he has actually increased in weight, after a daily 
packing for five days, for he now weighs 8 st. lb. 13 J oz. 
Diverting -his attention thence to the first series of opera- 
tions, the reader will see that the bather weighed more at 
the commencement of the second process than at the com- 
mencement of the first — that he weighed more at the com- 
mencement of the fourth than at the commencement of the 
third — and that in the interval between the termination of 
the fifth operation and the termination of the first, that is, 



THE BLANKET-PACKING NOT A REDUCING AGENT. 137 

after a daily packing for four consecutive days, the indivi- 
dual only lost ten ounces and a half in substance, although 
at each operation he lost in weight on the average consi- 
derably more than that amount, namely, thirteen ounces 
and a half. In fact his having diminished in bulk by four 
packings even that ten ounces and a half the author ascribes 
entirely to some contingent casualty. 

In operation the sixth will be observed a sudden and 
remarkable diminution of weight, somewhat startling at 
first, but not at all puzzling when it is known that a sub- 
stantial article of apparel was on that day abandoned. 

From these experiments it follows that, caeteris paribus, 
the blanket packing, although for the time being it abstracts 
considerably from the weight of the body, is certainly not 
a reducing process. This fact may be explained on the 
strictest physiological grounds with perfect facility. In the 
first place, as proved by the accelerated pulse, it invigorates 
the whole circulation. This promotes those chemical changes 
before described as constantly occurring in the various 
tissues, and whose additional energy ensures the more rapid 
withdrawal and absorption into the blood of worn-out, effete 
matters, and necessitates their speedy excretion from the 
body. The increased activity of these chemical decom- 
positions, the augmented flow of blood into the skin, and 
the very pervious state of that membrane produced by the 
relaxing influence of heat, these three circumstances toge- 
ther cause, as before seen, an abundant secretion of watery 
fluid. But this material being so abruptly and rudely 
withdrawn, there is immediately felt in the system a vacuum, 
a want, a desire for new material to fill the place of what 
has been abstracted. Thus is generated an appetite. More 
food than usual is swallowed, and the person speedily re- 
gains his diminished substance. These same facts and 
arguments apply both to the vapor and hot air bath, as well 
as to the blanket packing. A gentleman took the vapor 
bath every day for a week. Each time he remained in it 
T 



138 THE BLANKET-PACKING, VAPOR, AND HOT-AIR BATHS 

half an hour. The following are the results in reference to 

his weight. 

Weight prior to the bath. Weight after the bath, 

St. lbs. oz. St. lbs. oz. 

1 10 10 12 10 9 8 

2 10 11 5 10 10 5 

3 10 11 5 10 10 15 

4 10 \2 3 10 11 4 

5 11 11 15 10 11 

6 10 11 10 10 10 12 

7 10 \2 151 10 12 7± 

By a simple calculation it will be perceived that this 
gentleman had withdrawn from his body by the influence 
of the warm vapor six pounds, within two ounces, of sub- 
stance. Nevertheless at the termination of the whole seven 
sweatings he weighed nearly two pounds more than he did 
before the commencement of the operations ! Another fact 
too may be interesting to many; while submitting to this 
sudorific ordeal, and increasing in bulk thereby, his diet 
was exclusively confined to articles of vegetable growth. 
Nothing animal was taken, if we except some roast-meat 
gravy, which was permitted as a relish to his greens and 
potatoes. 

Another gentleman took the vapor bath four times in 

five days, that is omitting one day, and each bath lasting 

half an hour, with similar results, as shewn in the ensuing 

table. 

Weight prior to the bath. Weight after the bath. 





St. lbs. oz. 


St. lbs. oz. 


1 


8 1 12 


8 1 3 


2 


8 1 2 


8 13 


3 


8 1 6 


8 15 


4 


8 1 10 


8 1 3 



It will be at once seen here that the person after the 
fourth bath weighed precisely the same as after the first, 
although the vapor had extracted in the meanwhile a pound 



NOT PER SE REDUCING AGENTS. 139 

and a half of substance. This person at the time of the 
operations employed both animal and vegetable diet. The 
same gentleman took three hot air baths on consecutive 
days, each operation lasting forty minutes. The heat was 
generated by a spirit lamp placed beneath a common chair, 
and confined to the periphery of the body by the wrap- 
pings of half a dozen blankets. Before the commencement 
of the series he weighed 8 st. 2 lbs. 15 oz. At the termi- 
nation of them, just after the last sweating, his weight 
was 8 st. 3 lbs. 4 oz.! 

From all these experiments then it follows, as an indu- 
bitable fact, that no sudorific process, neither the blanket 
packing, the vapor bath, nor the hot air apparatus, is capa- 
ble per se of diminishing permanently a person's weight. 
In other words, they are not reducing agents.* If it be 
desired to employ any of these three baths to diminish a 
person's bulk, they must not be used alone. Limitation in 
diet must be subjoined ; otherwise, if the appetite be per- 
mitted to satisfy itself, as before, no diminution of weight 
will follow their employment. It may be as well to add 
that the mode of reducing a person is not by their means 
at all. There are other far speedier, safer, and more cer- 
tain hydropathic measures capable of effecting this object 
when requisite. But as this work is intended to be one of 
research merely, the results of such experimental inquiry 
alone are treated. It would be out of place therefore to 
pursue the theme further into the correct and only method 
of ensuring reducion. 

The reader will probably remember that the blanket 
packing always augments the frequency of the pulse. In- 
deed, as the author has endeavoured to explain, this is 
necessary previously to the production of perspiration. He 
does not of course mean to assert that the pulse, even when 
so stimulated, must attain the rapidity with which it moved 
before the commencement of the process. But as the latter 
* Unless the patient's vital powers be extremely feeble. 



140 THE BLANKET-PACKING, BEING A STIMULANT, 

rate of speed was perfectly natural, under the influence of 
the various exciting circumstances then existing, the active 
exercise preceding the bath, the hurry of quickly undress- 
ing, and the accompanying nervous excitement, so, when 
gradually this animation of nervous, muscular, and visceral 
systems is gradually allayed, and perfect quietude, both 
mental and corporeal, and the recumbent position are es- 
tablished, it is just as natural for the pulse to have fallen 
twenty or thirty beats, and to continue to beat with that 
comparatively slow movement. Take for an example the 
very first operation. Wrought upon by various rousing 
influences, it naturally enough beats at the commencement 
of the process ninety-two strokes in the minute. At the 
expiration of an hour all these exciting causes have disap- 
peared, and moreover the influence of the horizontal position 
is felt. We now see the pulse temperately moving sixty 
times in the same period. It has subsided thirty-two de- 
grees. But under the present circumstances the present 
state of things is the natural state. So long, therefore, as 
the patient remains quiet, both in muscle and mind, his 
envelopes and posture unaltered, anything that produces 
an acceleration of his pulse must be what is technically 
called a stimulant, an artificial stimulant. And we have 
seen that after a time the blanket packing itself does this. 
Ergo the blanket packing is a stimulant. And beyond a 
doubt it is a most decided stimulant. Now medical science 
has proved that in certain diseases the employment of sti- 
mulants is beneficial, and in certain others their employment 
is deleterious. The class of cases, in which stimulants, 
that is, remedies that accelerate the pulse, are bad, is that 
class where the pulse is already accelerated. This class of 
cases embraces febrile and inflammatory disorders. It fol- 
lows therefore from this reasoning that the blanket packing, 
which is a decided stimulant, is inadmissible in all com- 
plaints associated with either inflammation or febrile excite- 
ment. And here, indeed, principle and practice, theory and 



NOT TO BE EMPLOYED IN ACUTE DISEASES. 141 

fact support each other. For daily experience demonstrates 
the soundness of the argument. It is not an uncommon 
notion among the laity, that the best cure for a cold in the 
head or chest, or for an acute attack of the gout, or for 
awkward head symptoms arising from plethora of the brain, 
&c, is to give the patient a good sweating in the blankets. 
The reader is now prepared to understand how such gross 
treatment will in all probability exaggerate the cold, convert 
the gouty pain to anguish, and quench mere awkward 
symptoms in apoplectic stupor. Let it therefore be consi- 
dered a general rule that in diseases attended with a quick- 
ened pulse, or other evidences of febrile excitement, the 
blanket packing is to be avoided. In all such cases, indeed, 
the hydropathic sheet anchor, the great hydropathic anti- 
phlogistic, the hydropathic calomel and opium, antimony 
and bleeding is the wet sheet. 

It is not improbable it may have occurred to the reader 
that the author was guilty of forgetfulness in not hitherto 
saying a word concerning the influence exercised by the 
blanket packing upon the respiration. He has, however, 
purposely omitted to do so, till he should have a fit oppor- 
tunity for drawing a comparison between the effects of the 
blanket packing and the hot air and vapor baths. He has 
now that opportunity, and will therefore proceed to discuss 
this influence upon the pulmonary system. 

It will be seen at once that under the influence of the 
operations the respiration is less regular and consistent 
than the pulse. Nevertheless in some matters it is suffi- 
ciently steady for the establishment of a few general rules 
of great importance. In the first place with one excep- 
tion, namely in the ninth experiment, it always is less fre- 
quent at the expiration of an hour than before the com- 
mencement of the process. In the next place as a general 
rule it falls in this period by comparison considerably less 
than the pulse. Let the reader, after having proved this 
statement satisfactorily to his mind by examining carefully 



142 EFFECT OF THE BLANKET-PACKING 

the details of the experiments, now consider the advantages 
arising from this superiority displayed by the respiration. 
Let him call to mind what has been said on this subject in 
every preceding chapter. In the third place it will be no- 
ticed that as a general rule the rapidity of breathing in- 
creased in the same ratio with the augmented speed of the 
arteries. It will quite repay the inquiring reader's curi- 
osity, and therefore the author's trouble in arranging it, 
if the former will carefully study the following table. The 
figures in the second and third columns represent the re- 
spective condition of the pulse and respiration for all the 
eleven operations at the termination of the process, that is 
when the sudorific action is in full play. 

Pulse, Kespiration, 

Operation. per minute. per minute. 

1 70 18 

2 60 17 

3 60 18 

4 66 17 

5 68 24 

6 64 18 

7 80 20 

8 72 20 

9 76 .. 32 

10 92 30 

11 72 30 



11)— 780 11)— 244 



70.90 22.18 

The quotients resulting from these sums represent the 
average speed of the pulse and respiration during the most 
energetic period of the sweating process. Now the nor- 
mal relation of the movements of the heart and lungs, 
that is of circulation and respiration is, (as the author has 
proved by exact personal experiments, detailed in the 



UPON THE RESPIRATORY MOVEMENTS. 143 

chapter on the shallow bath,) as 72.73 of the former to 
19.31 of the latter, or as 3.76 to 1. But by a simple rule 
of three 22.18 : 70.90 : : 1 : 3.19. So that in the preced- 
ing table the pulse is slower than this average number by 
.83 beats in the minute, for 72.73—1.83=70.90. At the 
same time the respiratory movements are more frequent 
than this average by 2.87, for 19.31+2.87=22.18. This 
comparatively slow and steady action of the arterial sys- 
tem, and the unequivocal acceleration of the breathing- 
process must be carefully stored up in the reader's mind, 
for, as will immediately be explained, they are of the 
greatest moment. 

It not unfrequently happens that patients of a suscepti- 
ble disposition become so nervous, so extremely although 
unaccountably nervous in the blanket-packing, that that 
process is absolutely inadmissible again. It is then re- 
quisite to search for a bath capable of exerting a similar 
physiological effect, but free from its lengthy tedium. 
Such an apparatus we luckily possess in the hot air and 
vapor bath. And these may often be employed as very 
good substitutes for the former. But they unfortunately 
possess many most serious disadvantages. In the first place 
there is no means of accurately regulating their tempera- 
ture. It is sometimes too hot, sometimes too cold. Very 
frequently indeed it grows hot too suddenly. With regard 
to the vapor bath the latter is nearly always the case, for 
it is necessary to have a considerable amount of hot vapor 
in the apparatus before the patient steps into it. Other- 
wise the temperature is too long in rising, the patient in 
the interim sitting in the cold. Entering with the exposed 
skin suddenly into a heated atmosphere of course is bad. 
The author's rule is, that all his patients should go into it 
at a temperature of 80° F. It is then gradually raised to 
the requisite elevation. Then again some persons like, or 
can stand, as they say, a high temperature, as 115° F. or 
even higher by a thermometer placed at the top of the ap- 



144 COMPARISON BETWEEN THE BLANKET-PACKING 

paratus. Others feel suffocated at a comparatively low 
one, as 90° or 95° F. Now those things, which patients 
like best, do not always agree with them best. But in the 
blanket-packing we leave all this to nature. We do not 
trouble our heads about it, — and with the happiest results. 
She gradually warms the surface in the very gentlest 
conceivable manner, preparing the skin for the rush of per- 
spiration, which is to occur when, and not before, all parts 
concerned in that operation are ready. By imperceptible 
degrees she raises the temperature of the atmosphere sur- 
rounding the body, till it reaches that of the interior of 
the body. There is no rude shock of heat, as in the case 
of the vapor bath, and, to a less extent, of the hot air one 
too. The process goes on, and slowly the temperature 
outside the skin passes that of the blood — rises beyond 
98°. And now the influence of this elevation begins to be 
felt by the arterial system. The pulse becomes accelerated 
— not suddenly — it does not leap up twenty or thirty beats 
in a few minutes as in the vapor bath — but slowly and cau- 
tiously, a single beat perhaps for every five minutes. At 
last, when all is in order, the skin prepared for the coming 
discharge, the patient ready and expecting it, &c. &c, the 
perspiration flows forth. 

Besides this matter of temperature, regulated in the one 
instance by undeviating physiological laws, and in the other 
instances at the mercy of a capricious patient, or a care- 
less attendant, — there are other points in which the blan- 
ket-packing is immeasurably superior to the employment of 
hot air and vapor. The author himself took a series of both 
vapor and hot air baths to ascertain their physiological 
effects. On one occasion when enveloped in vapor, the 
thermometer placed at the top of the apparatus indicating 
a temperature of 107°, he found his pulse galloping along 
at 150 per minute, while his respiration was toiling at the 
ordinary pace of 19. 

It may be as well at once to mention another fallacy in 



AND THE HOT AIR AND VAPOR BATHS. 145 

reference to the vapor bath. The same gentleman has 
found that sometimes when at the ceiling of the apartment 
the mercury stood at 103°, at the floor it was twenty seven 
degrees higher. Incredible as this discrepancy may appear, 
it is true, and the truth was ascertained by repeated ex- 
periments, that the temperature of the bath was at the 
same time 103° and 130°. And this he thinks may be es- 
tablished as a general rule, namely, that on that plane in 
which the steam makes its entrance, and which is generally 
at, or near the bottom of the bath, the thermometer rises 
many degrees above that near the ceiling of the apartment. 
All this par parenthese. 

On another occasion the pulse was 88 before entering 
the bath, and the respiration 18. After he had been in the 
bath a few minutes, the thermometer in the same position 
standing at 102 the pulse had risen to 128, that is forty 
beats more in the minute than before, while the respira- 
tion was stationary, absolutely stationary! So that the 
same number of respiratory movements, (which is equiva- 
lent to saying the same amount of air, or oxygen inhaled,) 
had now to purify as much blood as would be pumped into 
the lungs by a hundred and twenty-eight beats of the 
heart per minute, that had been before devoted to the pu- 
rification of as much as would be impelled thereinto by 
only eighty-eight strokes of that organ. Therefore, as much 
blood as the lungs would receive from the forty additional 
pulsations of the heart must pass on through the pulmo- 
nary tissue laden with its previous impurities, and in this 
polluted state be distributed to every part of the body, 
for the purpose of imparting nourishment, vigor, life ! On 
a third occasion, and this time it was the hot air bath that 
was employed, the author counted 120 pulsations at his 
wrist, while his chest rose and fell but fourteen times ! It 
is needless multiplying examples. No series of experi- 
ments on this subject are here detailed, no tabular views 
arranged. For in the first place the few examples enu- 
u 



146 COMPARISON BETWEEN THE BLANKET-PACKING 

merated are sufficient to illustrate the argument. And in 
the second place this little work has already swollen in 
bulk beyond the limits of the original intention. It will 
be quite enough then to state in general terms, that one 
deleterious effect, following the use of the hot air and the 
vapor baths, is the great, sudden, or violent impetus given 
to the heart and arteries, unaccompanied by any corres- 
ponding augmentation in the purifying process of respira- 
tion. Consequent upon this fundamentally wrong state of 
things comes a long procession of evils. Hence follow 
fainting, giddiness, congestion of the brain, visible injec- 
tion and smarting pain in the eyes, nausea and vomiting, 
feelings of suffocation, distressing palpitation, and an 
endless train of miseries. The author has himself suffered 
in his personal experiments from most of these ugly symp- 
toms, especially from the painful affection of the conjunc- 
tivae, the nausea, faintness, and palpitation. During one 
experiment his heart beat so violently that he was com- 
pelled to postpone the subsequent cold plunge for several 
minutes. Now, reader, recall to your memory the very 
different condition of the system under the influence of 
the blanket-packing — no violently palpitating heart audibly 
battering against the chest there, but a pulse steadily and 
quietly moving at 70 per minute — no undecarbonized, con- 
taminated blood carrying its poisonous influence into every 
tissue, for it was shewn that in that process the respiration 
was to the pulse as 22.18 is to 70.90, but on the contrary 
a quality of blood even more unsullied, more pure than 
before the operation — no indefinite fluctuating temperature 
depending upon the caprice of nervous people, and human 
carelessness, but a thermometric state invented by nature 
as most fit for the purpose, and carried out by her in the 
most efficient and unvacillating manner. 

Before the author concludes this chapter let him warn 
the reader, that although under all circumstances, where 
the employment of the blanket-packing is practicable, that 



AND THE HOT ATR AND VAPOR BATHS. 147 

bath is pre-eminently superior both to the hot air bath, and 
the vapor bath, nevertheless he admits that cases do occur, 
where these two operations are not only admissible, but 
capable of doing eminent service. 



CHAPTEE Y. 

THE SHALLOW BATH. 

With this bath experiments were made on the pulse, res- 
piration, Ind temperature of the water. 

A young man, twenty years old, weighing eight stones, 
and of an excitable temperament, received the first series 
of operations with the following results : — 

FIRST SERIES OF OPERATIONS. 

Each bath lasting one minute and a half. 

Pulse before Pulse after Resp. before Resp. after 

bath. bath. bath. bath. 

1 108 120 

2 100 108 24 28 

3 116 120 24 40 

4. 116 122 30 36 

5 108 108 24 32 

6 , 96 96 30 36 

7 88 104 24 32 

(The next five followed the dry-packing.) 

8 80 88 

9 72 84 20 28 

10 76 80 

11 92 ...... 88 30 26 

12 72 96 30 36 

(The next six followed the wet-packing.) 

13. ...... 53 84 22 21 

14. 64 76 

15 60 72 ...... 22 24 

16 60 64 19 24 

17 58 96 18 26 

18 60 74 19 26 



STATISTICS OF THE SHALLOW BATH OPEEATIONS. 149 

Out of the above eighteen operations it will be perceived 
that the pulse was fifteen times accelerated by the bath, 
once retarded, and twice uninfluenced. By adding together 
the figures in each column, and dividing the results by 18, 
the average estimates will be obtained. In this way it will 
be found that the average pulse was 82.16 before the ope- 
ration, whereas that after it was 93.33. Here therefore is 
exhibited an elevation of 11.17 beats in the minute, for 
93.33—11.17=82.16. 

In respect to the respiration, the reader will observe 
several vacancies. These were unavoidable, from the fact 
of the author being suddenly summoned away, and other 
contingent circumstances. Nevertheless, the effect of the 
bath upon the lungs has been examined fourteen times. 
And out of those fourteen times the respiratory movements 
have declined in frequency twice, and been increased twelve 
times. The averages, ascertained by adding together the 
figures in each column respectively and dividing the sums 
by fourteen, will give 24 as that of the respiratory move- 
ments before the bath, and 29.64 as that after the bath, 
shewing an increase of 5.64 in the minute, for 29.64 — 
5.64=24. 

It being then demonstrated that in this series of opera- 
tions there is all but unexceptional acceleration both of 
pulse and breathing, the next and most interesting point to 
be investigated is this, whether in 'proportion to each other 
the pulse has been elevated beyond the breathing, or the 
breathing beyond the pulse. To effect this desirable object 
in the most accurate manner, it will be necessary to compare 
the results of the calculations of the respiration, not with 
the general results of the calculations of the pulse, as just 
described, but with those fourteen numbers (having refer- 
ence to the pulse) only, which correspond with those having 
reference to the breathing. The difference thereby mani- 
fested will be slight, but in experiments of this kind accu- 
racy should be the summum bonum. 



150 EXPERIMENT TO ELUCIDATE THE HARMONIOUS 

By making these calculations, namely, by adding together 
the fourteen numbers, both those applying to the pulse 
before the bath, and those after it, and dividing each total 
respectively by 14, it will be seen that the average rapi- 
dity of the pulse before the process was 82.21 beats per 
minute, instead of 82.16, (which was the general result of 
all the experiments,) and after the bath 94 beats instead of 
93.33, (which was also the general result of all the experi- 
ments). And 94—82.21 = 11.79. The latter figures there- 
fore denote the average elevation of the pulse, instead of 
11.17. 

It has now been shown that while the respiration rose by 
5.64 beats per minute, the pulse rose by 11.79. Now 5.64 
: 11.79 : : 1 : 2.09. So that for every single additional res- 
piration the pulse increased two beats and nine hundredths. 
This was the relation they bore to each other, 1 to 2.09. 
Let us now see what is the usual corresponding ratio be- 
tween them. 

To elucidate this matter correctly, the author had recourse 
to his own pulse and breathing, as being the most conve- 
nient for the experiment, and for whose healthy performance 
he could vouch. By instituting a frequent comparison 
between these two functions during various periods of the 
day and under diversified circumstances, and such as would 
be likely to modify the results, (as, for example, before 
and after meals, before and after taking exercise, in the 
sitting, standing, or recumbent posture, &c, &c.,) he found 
the most remarkable fluctuation — so much so that it was 
clear no one experiment would be sufficient to elicit the 
truth. Such being the case, it was thought expedient to 
investigate the state of the pulse and respiration during all 
periods of the day, and under all the most varied circum- 
stances. When this should be done a sufficient number of 
times, a comparative analysis of the whole should be made, 
and a probably correct average would be obtained. This 
was therefore done, and the following table soon drawn up. 



RELATION OF THE HEART AND LUNGS. 151 

The first column indicates the hour of the day the experi- 
ments were performed — the second row the pulse — the 
third the respiration. It would be as well, however, to 
mention, that more experiments were made than are now 
presented to the reader. They are omitted here for the 
sake of brevity and conciseness, and without interfering 
with the results. For example,' if it were found at 11 
o'clock a.m. on one day that the beats of the pulse were 
67, and of the respiration 16, on another day that the 
former were 68, and the latter 17, and on a third day that 
the former were 69, and the latter 18, these figures would 
be curtailed into the intermediate and average numbers 68 
and 17. 



Time of day. 


Pulse. 


Eespiration. 


7 .... 
7 30 .... 


.. 64 ... 
.. 61 .., 


.... 14 
.... 14.5 


I- before rising. 


7 45 .... 
8 

8 30 .... 
8 45 .... 


.. 62.4.. 

.. 80.8.. 
.. 86 ... 
.. 84 .. 


.... 17.8 
.... 38.4 
.... 20 
.... 17 


before walking, 
after walking briskly, 
after breakfasting at 8. 


9 30 .... 
10 


.. 93 .. 

.. 88 ... 


.... 26 
... 24.5 


> while out walking at a 
/ moderate pace. 


10 45 .... 
11 


.. 68 ... 
.. 68 .. 


.... 14.5 
.... 17 


1 sitting quietly in his 
/ study. 


1 

1 20 .... 


.. 66 ... 
.. 60 .., 


.... 15.5 
.... 15.5 


> dining at half-past 1. 


2 15 .... 


.. 12 .. 


.... 18 




2 45 .... 


.. 70 .. 


.... 15.5 




5 

6 

8 


..• 88 .. 

.. 63 .. 
.. 71 .. 


.... 30 

.... 17 
.... 16.5 


( while out walking at 
I a moderate pace. 
^ sitting quietly in his 
Y study. Tea was 


11 


.. 64 .. 


.... 16 


y taken at 7 p.m. 



152 STATISTICS OF THE SHALLOW BATH OPERATIONS. 

At this point it was considered that a sufficient number of 
experiments had been performed to warrant a confident re- 
liance on the event, as being as near as possible to the 
truth ; and more especially so as it was found now, that on 
adding together the figures in the second column, and di- 
viding the sum by 18 the result, which will denote the 
average rapidity of the pulse, was found to be 72.73. 
This number, minus the fractional figures, is actually the 
one, that by universal consent represents the standard pulse 
of health. This being the case it becomes a priori most 
reasonable to consider the average rate of the respiratory 
movements, whatever it may be, that shall follow on an 
analysis of the same experiments, which yielded the stan- 
dard pulse, to be the standard respiration. 

If the third column of figures be added together and 
divided by 18, the average and, we may now add, standard 
rapidity of respiration will be indicated by the result. 
This result is 19.31. The correct rapidity of the respira- 
tion therefore bears the same relation to that of the pulse 
as 19.31 does to 72.73. And as 72.73 : 19.31 : : 3.76 : 1. 
Therefore for every respiration there should be, to preserve 
their due equilibrium, 3.76 or nearly four beats of the 
pulse ; or vice versa, for four beats of the pulse there 
should be a little more than one respiration. 

Let us now return to the subject of the shallow-bath 
operations, which gave rise to these calculations concerning 
the equilibrium of the pulse and respiration. It will be 
remembered, that in those operations the average rapidity 
of the pulse (as gained by calculations from those experi- 
ments only which also contained an account of the respi- 
ration) was before the process 82.21, and after the process 
94 in the minute, that the breathing motion took place 24 
times per minute before, and 29.64 times after the opera- 
tion. But in the first place, according to the analysis 
which has been made on the correct relation between pulse 
and breathing, or heart and lungs, 24 (standing for the res- 



SHALLOW-BATH OPERATIONS. 153 

piration) will be too high for 82.21 (as the numerical re- 
presentative of the pulse.) For as 72.73 : 19.31 : : 82.21 
: 21.82. There is a balance therefore of 2.18 in favour of 
the respiration. In the second place 29.64 will also be too 
high a rate of speed of the lungs for 94 beats of the pulse 
at the termination of the process, for as 72.73 : 19.31 : : 
94 : 24.95. Again therefore there is a balance in favour 
of the respiration, but this time to the amount of 4.69. 
So that it manifests not only an increase of rapidity, but 
an increased increase of rapidity. As the earth has two 
motions, one round the sun, and the other on its own axis, 
so the respiration has been accelerated not only with the 
acceleration of pulse, but in proportion to the acceleration 
of pulse. Under other circumstances the original respira- 
tion before the process having been 24, that is 21.82+2.18, 
that subsequent to the process should be 27.13, that is 
24.95+2.18. But its actual rate of speed being marked 
by an additional 2.51, viz. by 29.64 its augmented rapidity 
is as it were two-fold. And from what has been already 
said on this subject in all the preceding chapters the sani- 
tary effect of this is most evident. 

Besides the effect of the shallow-bath on the pulse and 
respiration it was considered a point of great interest to 
discover the amount of heat abstracted from the body, and 
communicated to the water. The author therefore endea- 
voured to throw some light upon this subject by means of 
the following experiments, duly providing of course that 
the quantity of water should always be the same, namely, 
15 gallons, and that the duration of the bath should be 
the same, namely one minute and a half. These experi- 
ments were conducted during some of the operations that 
were last described. 



154 



DETAILS AND STATISTICS OF THE 



TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER. 
Before immersion. 



6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 



65.00 deg. F. 

42.50 

41.00 

39.75 

39.50 

42.00 

51.00 

53.00 

53.00 

55.00 

53.00 

60.75 

48.50 

52.00 

48.00 

49.25 



After immersion, 

.. 66.00 deg. 

.. 45.00 „ 

.. 42.50 „ 

.. 41.30 „ 

.. 41.50 „ 

.. 44.00 „ 

. 52.00 „ 

.. 54.00 „ 

.. 55.50 „ 

.. 56.00 „ 

. 54.00 „ 

. 61.75 „ 

. 49.25 „ 

,. 52.75 „ 

. 49.33 „ 

. 50.00 „ 



Total 16)— 793.25° F. 



16)— 814.88° F. 



Average 



49.57° F. Average 50.93° F. 



Having, as above, ascertained the average temperature of 
the water of the shallow-bath both before and after the 
process, it is easy to calculate the average elevation of 
temperature caused by contact with the body. 50.93 — 
49.57=1.36, which may be taken therefore in this individual 
as the representative of the amount of caloric abstracted 
from his system at each operation. More will be said on 
this subject in another place. 

The second series of shallow-bath operations were per- 
formed by a man twenty-eight years old, weighing ten 
stones and a half, and of a decidedly phlegmatic, unimpres- 
sionable diathesis. The results guided by the peculiarity 
of temperament will be seen to differ in an important 
manner from the first series. They are as follows : — 



SHALLOW-BATH OPERATIONS. 155 

SECOND SERIES OF OPERATIONS. 
Each bath lasting one minute and a half. 





Pulse before 
bath. 


Pulse after Resp. before Resp. after 
bath. bath. bath. 


1 




72 ... 


... 72 




9 




86 ... 


... 68 




3 




80 ... 


... 72 




4 




84 ... 


... 68 




5 




76 ... 


... 68 




6 




76 ... 


... 60 




: 




96 ... 


... 84 




8 




84 ... 


... 78 20 


22 


9 




84 ... 


... 72 22 


30 


10 




100 ... 


... 72 24 


30 


11 




88 ... 


... 84 22 


28 


12 




96 ... 


... 72 24 


28 




(The next six 


followed the dry-packing.) 




13 




70 ... 


... 60 




14 




60 ... 


... 60 17 


17 


15 




60 ... 


... 60 18 


18 


16 




66 ... 


... 60 17 


21 


17 




64 ... 


... 72 18 


22 


18 




72 ... 


... 72 ... • 22 


24 




(The 


next three followed the wet-packing. 


) 


19 




46 ... 


... 72 26 


26 


20 




44 ... 


... 56 20 


28 


21 




44 ... 


... 60 26 


26 



Totally opposed to the results of the first series of the 
shallow-bath operations, in the present series there is ex- 
hibited with certain exceptions a decided depression of the 
activity of the pulse. At the same time the speed of the 
respiratory movements does not merely remain unimpaired, 
but is actually considerably augmented. In reference to 
the pulse the exceptions just mentioned are three-fold. 



156 DETAILS AND STATISTICS OF THE 

Firstly, in operations 1, 14, 15 and 18, the pulse continues 
unchanged. Secondly, in No. 17 there is an elevation of 
pulse. Now both these exceptions are clearly referrible to 
casualty. But the third exception is of so important and 
interesting a nature as to demand a further consideration. 
It occurs in operations 19, 20, and 21, in each of which 
there is an extensive acceleration manifested. At the very 
first view the uniformity and largeness of the augmenta- 
tion clearly demonstrate something more than mere chance 
at the root of the difference. And immediately that we 
investigate the matter, the a priori view is justified. 

Glancing his eye at those of the figures alluded to, 
which indicate the state of the pulse before the bath, the 
reader's attention will be at once struck at their extreme 
lowness. He will probably have thought that the human 
pulse could never reach so low a point as 44 without ex- 
tinguishing life — a supposition which, extremely natural 
as it was before, is now demonstrated to be incorrect. 
The next question then to be considered is, could such a 
pulse be natural, or compatible with perfect health ? 
Certainly not. It is a highly artificial state produced by 
artificial means, namely, the wet-sheet. But this question 
is of course fully discussed in the chapter devoted to that 
process. The only matter now to be discussed is con- 
cerning the uniform elevation of the pulse after leaving 
the wet-sheet, and taking the shallow-bath, in an indivi- 
dual whose pulse is lowered by the shallow-bath under 
other circumstances, that is when unpreceded by the wet- 
sheet. The cause of this elevation, after what has now 
been said about the extreme lowness of the pulse in these 
three cases, must be apparent. It is already as slow as it 
can be, consistently with the due discharge of the corpo- 
real functions. Any further retardation therefore might 
be attended with detrimental effects. So that being inca- 
pable of falling it must either rise or remain stationary. 
Now the present rate of speed being highly artificial and 



SHALLOW-BATH OPERATIONS. 157 

unnatural, the result both to be expected and desired, is 
that it should rise, and assume more or less nearly its pris- 
tine rapidity. And this actually takes place, and an admi- 
rable provision of nature it is. 

The reason therefore for the third exception to the 
general rule (that of depression of the pulse in this series 
of operations, which are influenced no doubt by the tem- 
perament of the individual,) is so definite, and all-impor- 
tant, that in summing up as usual the averages of rapidity 
the author will not include the three last numbers apper- 
taining to the pulse. And as there may be some although 
unknown influence exerted by this arterial peculiarity 
upon the lungs, the accounts of the respiration correspond- 
ing to them will also be omitted. 

Before the author proceeds to figures, let him beg to 
remind the reader that the above operations were performed 
on a person in health, and that the above statements refer 
only to persons in health. Of course if the wet-sheet 
were prescribed to an invalid for the sake of reducing the 
pulse, as for example in an inflammatory disease, means 
would be taken to prevent a subsequent return to its for- 
mer height, till the inflammation should be subdued. Such 
means are ready to the hand of every hydropathist. 

To arrive at a knowledge of the average rapidity of the 
pulse both before and after the process in the second series 
of operations, let the calculations be made in the usual way 
by adding together the first eighteen sets of figures in the 
two first columns respectively, and dividing each result by 
18. On doing so it will be found that the first column 
amounts to 1414, and 1414 ■— 18=78.55, which therefore 
represents the average rapidity of the pulse before the bath. 
The second column yields a total of 1254, and 1254 -f 18 
=69.66, which accordingly describes the state of the pulse 
after the bath. Now 78.55—69.66=8.89. The pulse 
therefore sinks on an average 8.89 beats in the minute at 
every bath. 



158 DETAILS AND STATISTICS OF THE 

The calculations for the respiration must be made by 
adding together separately the first ten numbers of the last 
two columns and dividing by 10. The third column will 
be seen to give 204 by addition, and 204 -r 10=20.40. 
The fourth column amounts to 240, and 240 -7- 10=24.00. 
These two results therefore represent the average rapidity 
of breathing, the first before, the last after, the operation. 
24.00—20.40—3.60, so that while the pulse was lowered 
8.89 degrees, the respiration increased by 3.60. 

To discover the amount of heat communicated to the 
water by his body the following experiments were per- 
formed with this individual, most of which were accom- 
plished during the operations that have just been detailed. 
The thermometer was allowed to remain in the water for a 
little while before the mercury was examined, to render 
the results as accurate as possible. 

TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER. 

Before immersion. After immersion. 

1 46.00 deg. F. ... 

2 42.50 

3 43.50 

4 43.00 

5 43.00 

6 43.00 

7 42.00 

8 41.50 

9 43.50 

10 39.75 

11 39.50 

12 42.00 

13 43.00 

14 42.50 

15 42.50 

16 42.00 

17 49.75 



48.50 deg 


. F. 


45.00 


a 


46.00 


)) 


45.00 


}) 


44.00 


j> 


45.00 


a 


44.50 


)t 


43.00 


>} 


46.00 


a 


42.25 


a 


41.50 


)) 


44.50 


a 


45.00 


}) 


44.00 


)f 


43.75 


>i 


44.00 


.«> 


52.50 


>> 



SHALLOW-BATH OPERATIONS. 159 



Before immersion. 


After immersion. 


18 .... 


.. 47.00 


49.00 


19 .... 


.. 50.75 


52.75 


20 .... 


. 52.50 


54.50 


21 .... 


.. 53.75 


55.00 


22 .... 


.. 54.75 


56.00 


23 


.. 57.50 


58.50 


24 .... 


.. 47.50 


49.00 


Total 24)- 


-1092.75° F. 


24)— 1139.25° F. 


Average 


45.53° F. 


Average 47.46° F. 



The average temperature of the water both before and 
after the operation being ascertained as above it is easy to 
discover the relative elevation of the thermometer during 
each process. 47.46 — 45.53 — 1.93. This then is the ave- 
rage of twenty-four experiments. But it will be per- 
ceived that there is considerable irregularity in this matter, 
there sometimes being more than twice as much difference 
of temperature as at other times. The extremes will be 
found on letting the eye scan over the columns, to be one 
degree, and two and a half degrees of Fahrenheit's ther- 
mometer. Thus in experiments 1, 3, 9, 10 there will be 
seen two and a half degrees of difference between the two 
columns, whereas in No. 5 there is only one degree of dif- 
ference. On this subject more will be spoken in the 
analysis of the shallow-bath operations. 

The next and last series of operations with this bath 
were performed on the author of these pages. He thinks 
he may define his temperament as partaking of a mixed 
character, certainly not so excitable as he who underwent 
the first series, nor so phlegmatic as he who underwent the 
second. He proceeds to place them before the reader 
as follows : — 



1G0 DETAILS AND STATISTICS OF THE 

THIRD SERIES OF OPERATIONS. 





Each bath lasting one minute and a 


half. 






Pulse before Pulse after 


Resp. before 


Resp. after 




bath. bath. 


bath. 




bath. 


1 


, 72 12 








2 


68 12 








S 


70 84 








4 


72 80 








,5 


80 74 








6 


70 70 








7 


80 64 








8 


64 72 








9 


70 80 .. 


.... 14 




. 24 


10 


70 84 .. 


.... 16 




. 24 


11 


72 84 .. 


.... 18 




. 24 


12 


72 84 .. 


.... 16 




. 28 


13 


76 72 .. 


.... 18 




. 24 


14 


80 76 .. 


.... 18 




. 22 


15 


80 96 .. 


.... 18 




. 28 


16 


68 72 .. 


.... 17 




. 24 



Out of these sixteen experiments it will be perceived that 
the pulse fell four times, was stationary twice, and became 
augmented the remaining ten times. Of the eight experi- 
ments on the respiration that function was accelerated on 
every occasion. 

The reader will now perceive clearly the different effects 
of the shallow bath produced according to the different 
temperament or constitution of the individual. In the 
present series the pulse fell 4 times in 16, that is 1 in 4, 
the author's disposition being neither excitable nor phleg- 
matic. In the first series, the bather being of an excitable 
constitution, the pulse fell only once in 18 operations. In 
the second, where the person was of a decidedly phlegmatic 
mould, the pulse fell habitually. 

Let the figures of the first column be added together, 



THE SHALLOW-BATH OPERATIONS. 161 

and they will be found to amount to 1164, and this divided 
by the number of times the experiment was performed 
will give a result that shall indicate the average rapidity of 
the pulse before the process. 1164-f- 16 =72.75. 

The second column treated in the same way will discover 
the average state of the pulse after the process. The total 
amount of the figures is 1236, and 1236 -f- 16 = 77.25. 
And 77.25 — 72.75=4.50, which is the average elevation of 
the pulse in this series of operations, and which, in accord- 
ance with what has already been said about the temperature 
of the bather, will be recognised as a moderate rise, and on 
contrasting the results of this with the first and second 
series of operations, will be found to represent a due medium 
between the latter two. More will be said on this subject 
presently. 

The first column of figures referring to the respiration 
yields a total of 135, and 135 -f- 8=16.87, which represents 
the average number of respirations per minute before the 
bath. The last column amounts to 198, and 198-7-8 = 
24.75, which is the number of respiratory movements after 
the bath. Now 24.75—16.87=7.88. Such, then, is the 
average increase of breathing. But it will be seen, although 
in this series of operations the pulse fluctuated considerably, 
and yielded a total rise of only 4.50 beats, the respiration 
manifested an uniform ascent and displayed an average on 
the total of 7.88, which (according to some recently described 
statistical calculations, whereby it was shewn that one res^ 
piration corresponded to 3.76 beats of the pulse) is virtually 
equivalent to between 29 and 30 arterial pulsations, and 
would be sufficient to counterbalance such an augmentation. 

With this person also were performed some experiments 
on the temperature of the water. They are here detailed. 



162 



EFFECT OF THE SHALLOW-BATH ON THE PULSE. 



TEMPEEATUEE OP THE WATER 





Before immersion. 


After immersion. 


1 


47.00 deg. 


F 48.00 deg 


2 


48.00 


, 50.00 


3 


48.00 


, 50.00 


4 


41.00 


, 43.00 


5 . 


..... 43.00 


, 45.00 


6 . 


44.00 


, 46.00 


7 . 


42.00 


, 44.00 


8 . 


44.00 


, 45.50 


9 . 


42.00 


, 44.00 


. 


43.00 


, 45.00 


1 . 


44.50 


, 46.50 


2 . 


46.00 


, 48.00 


3 . 


47.00 


, 49.00 



13)579.50° F. total. 13)604.00° F. total. 



44.57° F. average. 46.46° F. average. 

46.46 — 44.57 = 1.89. This, therefore, is the average 
thermometric rise for each bath. As, however, in the 
experiments on temperature previously detailed, so also in 
these there is considerable fluctuation in the individual 
processes. The greatest difference between the heat before 
immersion and that after it is two degrees on Fahrenheit's 
scale, and the smallest is one degree. For examples, see 
the first and second experiments. 



Analysis of the Shallow-Bath Operations. 

The general effect of the first series of operations upon 
the pulse was to accelerate it by 11.17 beats in the minute. 
That of the second series was to diminish its frequency by 
8.89 beats in the minute. In the third the pulse was quick- 
ened three times, and retarded once, in every four. What 
is the cause of this difference ? It has been most satisfac- 
torily explained on the score of variety of temperament. 



JTS EFFECT UPON THE RESPIRATION. 163 

The pulse of the excitable temperament is excited, that of 
the phlegmatic one is depressed, that of the neither excita- 
ble nor phlegmatic one is neither wholly excited nor wholly 
depressed. But it is more frequently excited (namely, 
three times as often) than depressed. It may, therefore, 
be considered that, where temperament does not interfere 
either one way or the other, the more general effect of the 
shallow bath is to accelerate the pulse. Its 'physiological 
action is that of a stimulant. 

In all three series of operations its influence upon the 
respiration is constant. It invariably promotes the rapidity 
of that function, not only actually, but also in proportion 
to the increased activity of the pulse. It consequently 
exercises that salutary effect in the purification of the 
blood, which has received so much and so well-merited 
attention throughout this book. By promoting the respira- 
tory process, it increases the quantity of air, and therefore 
the quantity of oxygen taken into the lungs. This gas is ad- 
mitted into the air cells in greater abundance, in proportion 
to the amount of blood admitted, than is usual. A larger 
quantity of air being thereby devoted to the decarboniza- 
tion of the same quantity of blood, that fluid is aerated, is 
oxygenated much more efficiently than before. And from 
the improvement thus effected in the quality of the blood 
flows incredible benefit to the general health of the system. 
For a few detailed advantages, let the reader refer to the 
introductory chapter. 

It will be observed that in the first series of operations 
the rate of speed of the pulse prior to the commencement 
of the process did not at all affect its accelerating influ- 
ence. Whether the pulse had been previously excited by 
exercise, or had been retarded by the horizontal position 
in the blanket-packing, or had been still further lowered 
by the depressing action of the wet-sheet, it makes no differ- 
ence in the fact of its receiving increased rapidity from the 
employment of the shallow-bath. And with regard to the 
respiration precisely the same thing occurs. 



164 ANALYSIS OF THE SHALLOW- BATH OPEEATIONS. 

In the second series, where the general effect of the 
shallow-bath upon the pulse is lowering, the blanket-pack- 
ing interferes with this result to a considerable extent, but 
the wet-sheet altogether subverts the rule. In the three 
experiments, where the process last mentioned preceded the 
shallow-bath, the pulse was thereby brought to so low a 
degree before immersion in the water, that it would not 
have been practicable without danger for it to fall still 
lower. Nay more, it would not have been unprejudicial 
to health for it to continue for any length of time as low 
as it then was. Consequently nature made an exception 
in this case to her general rule. Sooner than permit the 
probability of detriment occurring to the system, she al- 
tered her policy and allowed the pulse, not merely to re- 
main stationary, that is undepressed, but even to ascend* 
The same rationale will explain the same thing, which ap- 
pears in a modified degree to follow the blanket-packing. 

In the three last experiments of the same series the res- 
piration will be seen to be twice stationary and once raised. 
Now the reader might possibly imagine that it must be 
very odd that, after all that has been said about the har- 
monious relation between the .circulation and the respira- 
tion, the latter in two instances does not ascend in accord- 
ance with the former, which rises about twenty beats in 
the minute. And yet the reason that the respiration is 
in these cases unaffected is most obvious. By drawing a 
comparison the reader will immediately perceive that the 
figures denoting the velocity of the breathing process are 
not only not low, but are even very high, both in propor- 
tion to the condition of the pulse before it is elevated, and 
also in proportion to its increased rapidity. 26 to denomi- 
nate the activity of the respiratory process is far more than 
equivalent to 60, or 72 as denoting the state of- the pulse 
after the shallow-bath in the two experiments. It was 
therefore of course quite unnecessary for the respiration, 
to be accelerated under the circumstances. 



REASONS FOR THERMOMETRY EXPERIMENTS. 165 

It will be noticed that, for the simplicity of the subject, 
the author has been somewhat elaborate in his thermome- 
tric experiments upon this bath. But he conceives that in 
this matter he can produce reasons sufficient for his justi- 
fication. He commenced his investigation into the change 
of temperature effected in the water by the immersed body 
with a two-fold object. One was the same, that actuated 
him equally in all his researches, namely to elicit any fact, 
that might rise to the surface, no matter as yet whether of 
vital interest, or comparatively unimportant, knowing as he 
does that the establishment of a simple, and at first to all 
appearance uninteresting fact, not unfrequently lays the 
foundation for the erection by and by of a stupendous su- 
perstructure. The second object he held in view, although 
neither, in his opinion, more definite, nor to the philosophi- 
cally enquiring disposition more important in its nature, 
still was one, that in point of time concerned us more 
nearly. He thought he descried through the vista of hy- 
dropathic ignorance (and as yet our knowledge of the sub- 
ject, as in the future by a retrospective glance we shall find 
it to be, is extremely limited) he thought he descried an 
easy method by means of the thermometer of testing the 
constitutional powers of an individual. The immense ad- 
vantage of gaining such information by a simple contriv- 
ance need not be dwelt upon. It could not be exaggerated. 
He expected it would be demonstrated that the greater a 
person's vigor of constitution, the greater impression would 
be made upon the temperature of the water. For if the 
various animal functions be conducted in a tolerably 
healthy manner, as the most, or one of the most important 
of them all is the generation of heat, this product, if by 
any means it should be more than usually abstracted from 
the body, would be the more readily re-supplied. The 
author therefore founded his theory upon this. Let a man 
be placed in a shallow-bath. So much animal heat is 
transferred from his bodv to the water. Now if his con- 



166 ANALYSIS OF THE SHALLOW-BATH OPEEATIONS. 

stitutional power be vigorous, fresh caloric is immediately 
generated — the body becomes as warm as it was before — 
and so more heat is transferred to the water. But if his 
vital powers be much impaired, the loss of heat sustained 
by contact with the water is not easily replaced. The body 
does not become so warm as before. More heat is not 
transferred to the water. And the temperature of this 
fluid therefore should not rise in the same proportion as in 
the first suppositious case. To obviate fallacy in the re- 
sults of course it would be necessary to have corrective 
rules relating to the weight, and perhaps temperament of 
the individual. The existence or non-existence of febrile 
excitement, that is the presence of morbidly abundant heat 
of surface, must also be taken into account. 

This object, although still in the distance, and still in- 
distinct, nevertheless still arrests his attention, and one day 
he hopes to grasp it. But alas ! he soon found that to 
arrive at the wished-for point, and confirm his surmises, a 
vast number of experiments would be necessary. And it 
was needful not only that the experiments should be 
manifold, but that they should be performed on many and 
all sorts of individuals. He knew therefore that his own 
unaided efforts would be valueless. But he hoped that 
they would not be unaided; on the contrary that they 
would form a nucleus for the developement of a number of 
others by philosophically enterprising hydropathists. Ex- 
periments of a novel nature, and in a new field always 
require an immense amount of thought for the designing, 
and an immense amount of patience and industry for the 
carrying-out. It is not always therefore, as it always ought 
to be, that actual experiment, scientific experimental re- 
search by rule and measure, occupies the first consideration 
of those who adopt any novel practice. For this reason 
the author thought he should commence the thermometric 
experiments upon the shallow-bath, not that unsupported 
they would possess interest, but that they would be of 



RESULTS OF THERMOMETRY EXPERIMENTS. 107 

great value, if they were the means of exciting others to 
do likewise. In this way, when the results of the labors 
of others, emulous in the race of knowledge, should be 
known, and comparative estimates made of the whole, 
great scientific truths would be established. And when 
once he determined to commence this series of investiga- 
tions, he resolved of course that this commencement should 
be as complete as it was in his power to make it. Hence 
then the comparatively, but not unfitly elaborate tables 
presented to the reader. Nor would it have been suffi- 
cient, as some persons may suppose, to have described the 
averages only, the quotients of the sums, without the in- 
sertion of the details. For in such case the justly criti- 
cal reader would ask, " What is this average ? How 
do we know it is correct ? Where are the figures to prove 
its accuracy ? It is a mere statement." In private life we 
believe every man, till he is convicted of a lie. But in 
science and philosophy the author himself credits nothing 
but what is demonstrated. Especially in the establish- 
ment of a new doctrine, or new practice, proof, absolute 
proof is indispensable. He contents himself therefore 
with merely stating the following facts. 

As the average result of many operations fifteen gallons 
of water were raised in temperature during the period of one 
minute and a half by the immersed body of a man of sanguine 
temperament from 49.57° F. to 50.93° F., by one of phleg- 
matic temperament from 45.53° F. to 47.46° F., by one 
whose temperament is neither the one nor the other from 
44.57° F. to 46.46° F. The elevation in the first instance 
amounted to 1.36° F., in the second to 1.93° F., and in the 
third to 1.89° F. An average deduced from these three 
estimates would yield for every operation 1.72° F. About 
one degree and three quarters may therefore be considered 
to represent the usual elevation of temperature. 



CHAPTEE VI. 



THE S1TZ BATH. 



The first series of operations were undergone by a man 
weighing about ten stones and a half, and about twenty 
eight years of age. In every experiment there were about 
four gallons of water employed. 



FIRST SERIES 


OF OPERATIONS. 




OPERATION I. 






Pulse. 


Resp. 


Temperature 
of the water. 


Before the process 


100 . 


20 .. 


.... 43.00 deg.F. 


After 5 minutes... 


72 . 


20 .. 


.... 45.00 


After 10 minutes.. 


72 . 


22 .. 


.... 49.00 


After 15 minutes.. 


72 . 


20 .. 


.... 50.00 




OPERATION II. 






Pulse. 


Resp. 


Temperature 
of the water. 


Before the process 


86 ... 


... 19.5 . 


43.00 deg. F. 


After 5 minutes... 


64 ... 


... 20 . 


45.33 


After 10 minutes.. 


64 ... 


... 20 . 


50.75 


After 15 minutes.. 


64 ... 


... 20 ., 


50.75 




OPERATION III. 






Pulse. 


Resp. 


Temperature 
of the water. 


Before the process 


72 ., 


19 .. 


.... 42.50 deg. F. 


After 5 minutes. . . 


57 .. 


.... 21 .. 


.... 45.75 


After 10 minutes . 


54 . 


21 .. 


.... 48.25 


After 15 minutes. 


56 . 


20 .. 


.... 50.50 „ 



DETAILS OF THE SITZ-BATH OPERATIONS. 169 



OPERATION IV. 

Temperature 
Pulse. Resp. of the water. 



Before the process 66 20 43.00 deg. F. 

After 5 minutes... 64 20 48.00 

After 10 minutes 60 20 49.50 

After 15 minutes 60 19.5 51.33 

OPERATION V. 

temperature 
Pulse. Resp. of the water. 

Before the process 72 18 42.50 deg. F. 

After 5 minutes... 54 19 45.50 „ 

After 10 minutes 54 19.5 48.50 

After 15 minutes 51.5 ... 20 50.00 

OPERATION VI. 

Temperature 
Pulse. Resp. of the water. 

Before the process 68 ...... 20 44.00 deg. F. 

After 5 minutes... 52 19 48.75 „ 

After 10 minutes 54 17 51.00 

After 15 minutes 51 18 52.00 , ? 

The second series of operations, which here follow, all 
lasted for half an hour, and were performed on the same 
individual as the first. 

SECOND SERIES OF OPERATIONS. 

OPERATION I. 

Temperature 
Pulse. Resp. of the water. 

Before the process 76 19 43.33 deg. F. 

After 5 minutes... 64 20 47.33 

After 10 minutes 56 18 49.75 



?> 



After 15 minutes 55 18 50.50 

After 30 minutes 52 18 53.33 

z 



170 DETAILS OF THE 

OPERATION II. 

Temperature 
Pulse. Resp. of the water. 

Before the process 72 20 ...... 42.50 deg. F. 

After 5 minutes... 62 20 46.00 

After 10 minutes 56 20 48.50 

After 15 minutes 52 20 51.50 

After 30 minutes 46 18 53.25 

OPERATION III. 

Temperature 
Pulse. Resp. of the water. 

Before the process 71 19 42.00 deg. F. 

After 5 minutes... 52 20 46.50 

After 10 minutes 47 16 46.50 

After 15 minutes 47 18 49.00 

After 30 minutes 42 18 54.00 

The third series were performed by the author upon 
himself. 

THIRD SEEIES OF OPERATIONS. 

Each of fifteen minutes duration. 

OPERATION I. 

Temperature 
Pulse. Eesp. of the water. 

Before the process 72 18 ...... 49.50 deg. F. 

After 5 minutes... 60 16 53.50 

After 10 minutes 56 19 54.00 

After 15 minutes 57 19 54.00 

OPERATION II. 

Temperature 
Pulse. Resp. of the water. 

Before the process 59 17 49.50 deg. F. 

After 5 minutes... 59 16 54.00 

After 10 minutes 59 15 54.00 

After 15 minutes 56 ...... 19 55.00 



SITZ-BATH OPERATIONS. 171 

OPERATION III. 

Temperature 
Pulse. Resp. of the water. 

Before the process 72 16.5 50.00 deg. F. 

After 5 minutes... 50 15 54.00 „ 

After 10 minutes 49 17 55.00 

After 15 minutes 50 16 55.00 

OPERATION IV. 

Temperature 
Pulse. Resp. of the water. 

Before the process 60 16.5 52.00 deg. F. 

After 5 minutes... 53 16.5 56.00 

After 10 minutes 52 15.5 57.00 

After 15 minutes 52 16 58.00 

OPERATION V. 

Temperature 
Pulse. Resp. of the water. 

Before the process 60 15.5 53.00 deg. F. 

After 5 minutes... 52 15 57.50 „ 

After 10 minutes 52 15.5 58.50 „ 

After 15 minutes 51 16.5 59.00 

Analysis of the Sitz Operations. 

The first two series of experiments were performed upon 
a man of phlegmatic temperament, the third one upon the 
author, whose temperament is, if he himself can be said to 
be a judge, neither phlegmatic nor sanguine. It certainly, 
however, if it incline to either kind in particular, partakes 
more of the latter character than of the former. At all 
events, the two sets of operations should be considered first 
separately. Let us begin, then, with the first two series, 
and it will be found that these two series embrace a sequence 
of nine experiments. 

By adding together the figures representing the state of 
the pulse before the commencement of the process in each 
of these experiments, and dividing the result by nine, it 
will be discovered that the average pulse previous to immer- 
sion in the bath was 75.88 beats per minute^ By perform- 



172 ANALYSIS OF THE SITZ-BATH OI^EBATIONS. 

ing the same calculation with regard to the figures second 
in the column, the rapidity of the pulse, after five minutes' 
immersion, will be ascertained to be 60.11 beats per minute. 
In the same way, the pulse, after the expiration of ten 
minutes passed in the bath, will be found to present an 
average of 57.44, and after fifteen minutes 56.50. It will 
be observed, therefore, that the first five minutes' immersion 
caused a subsidence of the pulse of 15.77 beats, that of the 
second five minutes a further diminution of 2.67, and that 
of the third five minutes a still further diminution of $£> of a 
beat. Hence, then, the sitz bath of a quarter of an hour's du- 
ration exercises a constantly depressing effect upon the pulse. 
That depression is the most marked within the first few 
minutes from the commencement of the bath, and becomes 
less and less so towards its conclusion. Now the first six 
of these nine experiments endured only a quarter of an 
hour, but the three last continued for thirty minutes. Let 
us see,, therefore, what difference in the pulse the additional 
fifteen minutes effected. The average number of pulsations 
at the expiration of the half-hour, drawn from calculating 
the three baths of that duration, will be seen to be 46.66. 
This would seem to indicate a fall of nearly ten beats, for 
56.50 was the last average calculated, namely, that one 
representing the state of the pulse after fifteen minutes' 
immersion. But this computation requires correction. To 
make it as far as possible exact, it is necessary to deduce an 
average for fifteen minutes from the same baths, and those 
only, whence has been deduced the average pulse for thirty 
minutes. And on making this correction, a considerable 
alteration will result. The average rapidity of the pulse, 
at the termination of fifteen minutes' immersion in the sitz- 
bath, derived from a calculation of the operations of the 
second series only, is 51.33. The fall, therefore, at the end 
of the half-hour, is not from 56.50, but from 51.33 to 46.66. 
So that there is a depression merely of 4,67, and not as 
according to the first computation, of nearly ten pulsations. 



THEIR EFFECT UPON THE PULSE AND RESPIRATION. 173 

Let us now cast an eye upon the effect produced by the 
sitz-baths of these two series on the process of respiration. 

By making precisely the same calculations, as were made 
in reference to the pulse, the average number of respira- 
tions will be discovered, as follows : — before the process, 
19.39 per minute, — after five minutes' immersion, 19.77, — 
after ten minutes, 19.27, — after fifteen minutes, 19.27. It 
will be at once perceived that these different periods pro- 
duce numerical alterations only in fractional quantities. 
Indeed it may be fairly said that hitherto the rapidity of 
respiration has been unaffected. But at the expiration of 
the half-hour the figures intimate an average of 18 respi- 
rations in the minute. If, however, we now inquire into 
what the medium speed of the breathing process was in the 
three operations of the second series, (namely, those only 
which were prolonged for thirty minutes), we shall perceive 
it to have been 18.66. Here then again appears a mere 
decimal alteration, the fall being sixty-six hundredths of a 
respiration in the minute. To repeat, then, we may fairly 
consider that while the pulse subsided from 75.88 to 46.66 
(a fall of nearly thirty beats! — of % of its original number ! ) , 
the respiration was unaffected. No wonder the head is not 
congested by the sitz-bath ! No wonder that, as will pre- 
sently be explained, contrary to all preconceived opinions, 
it relieves headache, and sometimes cures it like a charm ! 

Hitherto we have considered the influence of the sitz- 
bath upon the respiration and circulation in the case of an 
individual of a phlegmatic temperament. Let us now turn 
to one of an intermediate constitutional disposition, neither 
very phlegmatic nor very sanguine, and see if the difference 
of temperament will caUse the appearance of a difference 
in the results of the experiments. In the third series of 
operations the average rapidity of the pulse, ascertained in 
the usual manner, will disclose itself as follows : — before 
the commencement of the process, 64.60 beats in the 
minute. — (The observant reader will here think he has 



174 EFFECT OF THE SITZ UPON THE RESPIRATION, 

caught the author tripping. He will remember to have 
seen an opinion of the latter, expressed in the beginning 
of the work, to the effect that one sign of a phlegmatic 
temperament was an habitually slow pulse. And yet here 
is a gentleman, who puts himself down as rather more in- 
clining to the sanguine than to the phlegmatic disposition, 
but whose pulse, at the onset of the experiment, is abso- 
lutely considerably less frequent than that of him who un- 
derwent the two preceding series of operations, and who 
displayed the phlegmatic temperament in perfection. This 
apparently embarrassing contrariety, however, is to be ex- 
plained away in the most simple manner in the world. The 
author never took exercise before his baths; the other did 
invariably.) — after the expiration of five minutes' immer- 
sion, 54.80, — after ten minutes, 53.60, — after fifteen mi- 
nutes, 53.20. The first five minutes, therefore, caused a 
subsidence of ten beats within two-tenths ; the second a 
further diminution of 1.2, and the third a still further re- 
duction of .4. What a strong resemblance is here made 
manifest between the results of this series, and of the two 
last. It is true that in the' latter the pulse had fallen more 
than fifteen beats in five minutes, but then the original 
pulse had been nearly 76, whereas in this series it is only 
64. It could, so to speak, afford to fall more considerably. 
And accordingly it did fall 15.77 beats, while in the present 
series of operations it falls in the quarter of an hour just 
11.40 pulsations. 

Let us now examine the condition of the breathing ap- 
paratus in this set of experiments. It will be discovered 
that the average rapidity of the respiratory process for each 
operation, as deduced from the five of the series, is as fol- 
lows : — before the process 16.70, — after five minutes 15.70, 
— after ten minutes 16.40, — after fifteen minutes 17.30. 
From these facts it will appear that, while the pulse was 
sinking ten beats, the respiratory process abated just one 
movement, and that, while the pulse continued to lose in, 



PULSE, AND TEMPEEATURE OF THE SKIN. 175 

rapidity to the end of the process, the respiration began to 
increase in rapidity at the conclusion of the first five mi- 
nutes and went on without interruption, increasing for the 
remainder of the fifteen minutes. 

It will now be the correct moment to make inquiry into 
the effect upon the temperature of the water in the sitz- 
bath, produced by the immersion of the body. The ave- 
rage temperature of the bath, derived from a calculation 
upon the nine operations of the first and second series, is 
the following : — before the commencement of the process, 
42.87° F.— after the lapse of five minutes 46.46° F.— after 
ten minutes 49.08° F.— after fifteen minutes 50.62° F.— 
and after thirty minutes 53.52° F. But if we calculate the 
average height of the thermometer at the end of fifteen 
minutes from the three last operations, (namely, those 
which endured for half an hour), we shall find it to be 
50.33, instead of 50.62. And this must be done before it 
can be accurately laid down, as to how great an elevation of 
the thermometer took place between the expiration of 
fifteen and of thirty minutes. Now it can be stated safely 
that the temperature was elevated in five minutes from the 
period of immersion 3.59° F., in ten minutes was further 
elevated 2.62° F., in fifteen minutes still further 1.54° F., 
and in thirty minutes an additional 3.19° F., that is about 
one degree for every five minutes, but beyond a question 
considerably more for the first five minutes than for the 
last of the fifteen. In the operations performed upon the 
author the thermometric results were these : — average tem- 
perature of the water before the immersion of the body 
50.80° F, after five minutes 55.00° F., after ten minutes 
55.70° F., after fifteen minutes 56.20° F. It will be as 
well now to arrange a statistical table, embracing the ave- 
rage condition of pulse, respiration, and temperature of the 
water computed from a combination of these two analyses, 
in other words, from a combination of all three series of 
operations. 



1 70 the sitz in congestion of the brain. 

Statistics of the Sitz-Bath. 

Average Average Average Temperature 

Pulse. Respiration. of the water. 

Before the process. 70.24 18.04 46.83 deg. F. 

After 5 minutes... 57.45 17.73 50.73 „ 

After 10 minutes.. 55.52 17.83 52.39 „ 

After 15 minutes.. 54.85 18.28 53.41 „ 

After 30 minutes.. 50.18 17.44 56.60 „ 

This table will represent as accurately as possible the gene- 
ral effect of a sitz-bath of five, ten, fifteen, or thirty 
minutes' duration. The reader may perhaps wonder how 
the last figures, namely those indicating the different ave- 
rages at the expiration of thirty minutes, were obtained. 
If he will turn back to the description of the various move- 
ments of the pulse in the second series of operations, he 
will there find a calculation shewing that in the last half of 
a bath of thirty minutes' duration the pulsation of the heart 
subsided 4.67 beats. Now, if 4.67 be subtracted from 
54.85, the average pulse given above as existing at the ter- 
mination of fifteen minutes, the next number, 50.18, will be 
the result obtained. So with regard to the respiration and 
temperature. By referring to the analysis of the second 
series the reader may verify these statements, or rather 
figures, for himself. 

It maybe considered established therefore, that the sitz- 
bath greatly depresses the pulse, and leaves the respiration 
as nearly as may be unaffected, for, while the pulse falls 
more than 20 beats in the minute, the breathing drops 
only ! 6 of a respiratory movement. Which diminution of the 
celerity of the pulse, and non-diminution of the respiratory 
process it is, that imparts to the sitz-bath its excellent pro- 
perty of dissipating headache, that is to say, headache com- 
monly ascribed to determination of blood to the brain, or 
congestion of that organ. This affection is generally sup- 
posed to yield to the bath under discussion in consequence 



ITS MODE OF OPERATION. 177 

of the latter's derivative operation. Its disappearance is as- 
cribed to the determination of blood from the head to the 
parts immersed in water. And the argument adduced in 
support of this theory is the fact, that those parts are red- 
dened by the process, indicating the presence of more 
blood circulating through the skin than previously. This 
is perfectly true, as far as it goes. But it is not enough. 
The author has known severe head-symptoms, as consider- 
able torpor, muscae volitantes, dimness of sight, &c, relieved 
by the sitz without altering the natural pallor of the skin 
in the slightest degree. He has also known a head-ache 
vanish almost in the act of sitting down in the water, and 
therefore before it was possible the integument could de- 
rive into its own capillaries the blood previously congesting 
the vessels of the brain. Pie mentioned before that a pa- 
tient of his laboring under extensive disease of the lungs, 
(the result of an asthma of forty years' standing,) with 
considerable head complication never had his respiration 
more free, nor his brain more unclouded than in the sitz- 
bath. And yet this gentleman's skin was not at all red- 
dened by the water, although the latter was of the natural 
temperature. The mode in which the author believes, 
(and surely his belief is grounded on substantial data, the 
most substantial of all, actual experiments ,) the mode in 
which the sitz bath exercises what is called its beneficial 
derivative effect, is njt really so much by derivation of 
blood, as by purification of that fluid. One word in ex- 
planation will not be thrown away. A person is afflicted 
with headache arising from congestion of the brain. At 
least he is told that this is the origin of his malady. He 
is assured that the brain is congested, that is, that the ve- 
nous capillaries of that organ are distended, and contain 
more blood than they would in their normal condition, and 
that this superabundance of blood by the pressure upon 
contiguous parts gives rise to the symptoms, that have de- 
clared themselves. These symptoms, from the etymological 
2 A 



178 THE TRUE PATHOLOGY OF 

signification of the word, should be the external manifesta- 
tions of some definite internal disease. But they are not. 
They merely shew that there is something wrong with 
the brain. What that something is, they do not demon- 
strate. Now let us inquire into the nature of* those symp- 
toms of congestion of the brain. And we shall find them 
to be something like the following : — impaired memory ; 
confusion of ideas ; incapability of sustaining the attention ; 
deterioration of some one or more of the organs of special 
sensation, especially of sight or hearing ; increased nervous 
sensibility, both general and local, the first displayed in 
what is called "nervousness," the second in neuralgic pains, 
or spasmodic affections ; deficient nervous sensibility, evi- 
denced by dullness of intellect, and muscular weakness, or 
paralysis ; perverted nervous sensibility, made manifest by 
the production of unnatural sensations, as of water trick- 
ling down the spine, or ants creeping over the skin, or by 
erroneous impressions made upon the nerves of special 
sense, as in the seeing of silvery stars, black specks, clouds, 
and floating insects invisible to other eyes, or in recognising 
sounds unheard by other ears, or in the perception of odors, 
which other noses cannot appreciate ; lastly pains in the 
head of various kinds and intensity, from a heavy dull 
weight to the feeling of a knife passing through the brain, 
or of a nail being driven into the skull. When these 
symptoms are more or less aggregated together, and their 
origin can be traced to too intense application to busi- 
ness, or to too close study ; and when there is no reason to 
apprehend the presence of any more serious disease, as 
inflammatory congestion of the brain, or actual inflamma- 
tion of that organ, or the growth of a tumor ; and espe- 
cially when they are associated with marked disturbance of 
the digestive viscera, they are at once said to indicate the 
existence of chronic or venous congestion of the head. 
But it has been said that they really indicate merely some 
disordered condition of the brain. That disordered condi- 



CONGESTION OF THE BRAIN. 179 

tiou, from the absence of actual inflammation, tumor, and 
so forth, is presumed to be congestion. But precisely the 
same symptoms are generated by too little blood, or by a 
vitiated state of that fluid. The former we see verified 
every day in 'those pale-faced, chlorotic girls, that we en- 
counter at every turn in the street, and whose waxy com- 
plexions betray at once their complaint, and their blood- 
lessness as its cause. The latter is observed with equal 
clearness in different kinds of poisoning. What then is 
the direct evidence of the presence of congestion, that is, 
of capillaries distended with superabundant blood in cases 
characterized by the foregoing symptoms ? There is abso- 
lutely none ; no flushing of the face ; no preternatural heat 
of the head ; it may be according to the patient's perver- 
ted sensations abnormally hot, but not thermometrically, 
not appreciably to the hand of another individual ; should 
the patient die, there are no post mortem appearances to 
warrant this supposition ; at the inspection no distended 
capillaries, no superfluous quantity of blood are revealed to 
vision ; but the substance of the brain is observed to be pre- 
ternaturally dark, and this depends upon the fact of the 
blood contained therein being too dark, in other words too 
venous. Of such cases therefore as these, where the pa- 
tient is said to labour under congestion of the brain, and 
dyspepsia, the author has conceived an opinion, differing 
from the received theory, but which is at once simple, defi- 
nite, and most easily explained. The more he reflects 
upon it, and the more he sees of the disease under discus- 
sion, and the more he observes the effects of hydropathy, 
and particularly of the sitz bath upon that disease, the 
more does he become convinced of its truthful foundation. 
He has already shewn what a powerful and deleterious 
effect close confinement and sedentary habits exert upon 
the process of respiration. He has shown how this all- 
important, and most vital of all vital functions is thereby 
impeded in its duty, — how this impediment is inevitably 



180 CONGESTION OF THE BEAIN AND DYSPEPSIA. 

followed by the insufficient aeration of the blood in the 
pulmonary tissue, — how in consequence of this the expul- 
sion through the air cells of the lungs of its carbonacious 
particles is imperfectly effected, and that thereby it retains 
certain noxious qualities characteristic of its previously 
venous, or impure condition, — how in this impure, unarte- 
rialized state it flows through the lungs into the arteries, 
and is by them distributed to every part of the body, — 
and how, by thus flowing into the various tissues, it is capa- 
ble of generating, and does generate disease in those 
tissues. And this is precisely the author's view of the so- 
called " congestion of the brain" and "dyspepsia." He 
believes that they are neither of them local affections, — 
that neither the head, the stomach, nor the liver is more at 
fault than any other part of the frame, — that in such cases 
the whole system from the crown of the head to the sole 
of the foot is poisoned by the circulation of impure, unde- 
carbonized blood. It is impure blood circulating through 
the brain, that gives rise to the brain symptoms. It is im- 
pure blood traversing the stomach, bowels, and liver, that 
gives rise to the stomach, bowel, and liver symptoms. It 
is impure blood supplying the substance of the muscles, 
that gives rise to the muscular debility. In short impure 
blood travels to every tissue, and every tissue suffers in 
consequence. Does not the invalid labouring under this 
malady, complicated in its catalogue of symptoms, yet 
simple in its origin, invariably tell you that he has not a 
healthy organ in his body, and that there is no part of his 
frame, wherein he does not sometimes suffer ? Adopting 
then this simple view of the disease in question, how easy 
is it to understand the beneficial influence it derives from 
the use of the sitz-bath ! Let a person be supposed to 
endure that series of symytoms which are attributed to 
congestion of the brain, but which the author has endea- 
voured to prove would more correctly be ascribed to the 
circulation in the brain of impure blood, blood imperfectly 



ACTION OF THE STTZ-BATH IN THESE DISEASES. 181 

decarbonized. Let him be placed in a sitz-bath. His 
pulse immediately commences diminishing in frequency, as 
may be seen by consulting the foregoing experiments. His 
respiratory function remains unaffected. A less quantity 
of blood therefore than usual meets the usual quantity of 
air, which consequently performs its purifying duties in a 
more efficient manner. For example, one respiration being 
generally achieved in the same time as 3.76 pulsations of 
the heart, (see experiments on this subject detailed in the 
chapter on the shallow-bath,) and one pint of air being in- 
haled at each respiration, it follows, if the pulse beat less 
frequently than in accordance with this proportion, and the 
rapidity of the respiration remain unaltered, there will not 
be sufficient blood pumped by the heart into the lungs to 
employ all the air inhaled. But if the blood circu- 
lating in the system be impure from imperfect decar- 
bonization, this superabundance of air in the lungs is 
the very thing to cure it. And, by creating this super- 
abundance of air in the lungs, the sitz-bath does cure 
it. It cures this general circulation and distribution 
of impure, undecarbonized blood. And as this impurity 
of the circulating fluid tells more powerfully upon 
the delicate tissue of the brain than upon any other organ, 
thereby developing cerebral symptoms more prominently 
than any other, in the same ratio is the beneficial influence 
of the sitz-bath, and indeed other hydropathic appliances, 
in the reduction of these symptoms, more particularly 
striking. Now let not the author be misunderstood. He 
does not for a moment deny the derivative action of the 
sitz-bath. But he does maintain that this derivative action 
is far from being its principal physiological effect. And to 
support this opinion he believes he has now brought for- 
ward sufficient evidence. 

By reference to the statistical table of the sitz-bath the 
reader will observe the very definite ratio in which heat is 
transferred from the bodv to the water. Now it will be 



182 THE VALUE OF EXPERIMENTS. 

immediately admitted, that the most tonic agent known is 
the application of cold, that is, the withdrawal of heat, 
just as the latter imponderable is the universal relaxing 
agent. The sitz-bath therefore agrees with most other 
hydropathic appliances, in being an excellent tonic. 

The author begs here to draw the reader's attention to 
the fact, that great results and important inferences may 
follow apparently aimless experiments. As he has before 
mentioned, he instituted most of his experiments without 
any notion as to whither they would lead, and without 
the slightest intention of arriving at any particular result. 
He merely emptied his well to see if any truth, no matter 
of what kind, lay there concealed. He aimed at any in- 
formation, that he might happen to find in his search. 
And seeing in the thermometer a likely path to pick up a 
little knowledge, or a few facts, he at once struck into it. 
Nor has his search in this direction, with reference to the 
sitz-bath, been without success. He has proved beyond a 
doubt, many useful things. For example he has shewn 
(see statistics of sitz-bath) that in a bath of fifteen minutes' 
duration more animal heat is abstracted during the first 
third than during the last two thirds of the operation, and 
therefore that two sitz-haths of five minutes' continuance 
possess more tonic power than one bath of fifteen minutes' 
duration. The thinking reader will be able to deduce 
many such important inferences through the whole of the 
work, which the author has not space to do for him. The 
book is already prolonged beyond his original design. 

There is one class of affections, where the sitz-bath, 
administered in a peculiar way, has been found by the 
author to be of essential service. And this class is so 
common, so lamentably common, and so steadily increasing, 
that even a page or two devoted to its consideration will 
not be thrown away. The disorders alluded to are those 
connected with functional derangement of the womb, in- 
dicated by some disturbance of the menstrual secretion. 



DISORDERED MENSTRUATION AND LEUCORRHCEA. 183 

This disturbance may be exhibited in very many shapes. 
There may be retention of the menses, that is, the discharge 
may never have appeared, the proper age for its appearance 
having elapsed. Or there may be suppression of the 
menses, that is, the function, having been correctly dis- 
charged on previous occasions, shall have ceased to be so 
discharged. The secretion, regular in its periodic arrival, 
may be too scanty in quantity, or too abundant, constitut- 
ing deficient, or profuse menstruation. Lastly, the men- 
strual product, normal in its period of advent, and accurate 
in its quantity, may be elaborated from the womb with 
great difficulty and suffering. But under whatever phase, 
or external manifestations this functional disarrangement 
of the uterine system may shew itself, it is nearly always 
accompanied by a leucorrhoeal discharge, commonly known 
by the appellation of " the whites." And on the other 
hand the author will venture to assert with confidence from 
his own experience alone (although that of all the profes- 
sion is in accordance, he believes, with his), that a leu- 
corrhoeal discharge, although more or less present in almost 
every woman who has been unwell for some time, is never 
unattended by strongly marked symptoms of uterine dis- 
turbance. (When he was a student at Guy's Hospital he 
was what is called " dresser," or " clinical clerk " to a ward 
appropriated to diseases of the womb alone. He had, 
therefore, peculiar opportunities of entering into the 
details of this class of cases, and investigating them 
thoroughly.) Indeed, in certain old-standing complaints of 
this nature there appears, as it seems to him, to be a kind 
of supplementary action between the leucorrhoeal, or white, 
and the menstrual, or red, discharge. On these occasions 
the amount of the one secretion appears to bear an inverse 
ratio to that of the other. As the menstrual discharge 
increases in quantity, the leucorrhoeal one diminishes, and 
as the former is diminished, the latter is augmented. 
Now, if some menstrual fluid be submitted to a chemical 



184 DESCRIPTION OF A YOUNG LADY IN HEALTH, 

and microscopical analysis, it will be found to contain all 
the ingredients of blood, with the exception of the self- 
coagulating substance, flbrine. It will be seen to be com- 
posed of red globules, albumen or white of egg, certain 
mineral salts, and water. If then, some leucorrhoeal matter 
be investigated in a similar manner, it will reveal certain 
white globules, albumen, salts, and water. Here then it 
will be discovered, that these two apparently dissimilar 
fluids resemble each other in every particular, but in the 
nature of the globules contained. In the one case they 
are the red globules of the blood, in the other the white 
globules of mucus, or pus, accordingly as the leuchorrhceal 
discharge may display a mucous or purulent character. It 
will be easily perceived, therefore, how readily, cceteris 
paribus, the two secretions may be substituted for each 
other. 

Now let us summon to our aid a supposititious case. A 
young lady goes to a ball. Before she goes, she is per- 
fectly well, that is to say, as well as most young ladies are 
in the present state of society. Namely, her appetite is 
pretty good — fluctuating of course ; she only has a head-ache 
now and then, and a pain in the back occasionally ; pain in 
the left side we say nothing about, because all young ladies 
are subject to that; palpitation of the heart she is free 
from, except upon a little exertion ; the bowels are some- 
what constipated, but she appears to suffer no inconvenience 
from it, so what does that signify ? She menstruates every 
month regularly as clock-work to a day, but — suffers con- 
siderable pain on each occasion, &c. Such a young lady, in 
such health, goes to a ball, concert, or some other fashionable, 
and therefore crowded, place of amusement, we will say, 
during her monthly period. Of course she remains till a 
late hour. She then, when her skin is at the hottest, and her 
excitement at the highest, steps out from an atmosphere of 
80° F. into the cold, night air of 30° F., each, of course, more 
or less. Her body is shielded by the most flimsy attire, and 



THE SAME PERSON ATTACKED BY DISEASE. 185 

probably with no additional covering whatever, or merely 
a gauzy shawl thrown across her naked shoulders. She 
shivers as she springs into her carriage, and remains chilly 
till she reaches home. The next morning she is astonished 
to find she has taken cold. But there can be no doubt 
about the fact, for menstruation has ceased. But what is 
the immediate cause of this arrest of function ? Let us 
sift it thoroughly ; it will repay us with interest for the 
trouble. When the young lady was in the heated atmos- 
phere of the assembly-room, there was a genial glow over 
the whole surface of the body, and the skin was perspiring 
freely. No sooner does she encounter the chilly air of 
night, than this copious discharge is checked. And the 
tide of blood, that was flowing into the skin to maintain 
this secretion, is bent from its course, and has to direct its 
current elsewhere. The organ, that in the case before us 
invites its approach, is the womb. But this organ is al- 
ready congested in the natural fulfilment of its function 
of menstruation. When therefore it receives into its tis- 
sue an additional quantity of blood, it becomes more than 
congested. It inflames! Its lining membrane becomes 
dry, hot, painful, and tumid. The menstrual secretion, 
that was till then in action, is interrupted, and speedily 
stopped entirely. Now the arrest of any healthy function 
is disease. And the poor girl is now at all events, if she 
were not before, actually, unmistakeably diseased. And 
lucky is she if the distemper stop here. But frequently, 
alas ! how frequently does it happen, that this is but the 
starting point of a course of miseries, that shall endure, 
till kind death removes her from their grasp. The engorge- 
ment of the womb is often followed by the appearance of 
a papular eruption, especially about the neck of the organ. 
And these pimples after a certain period ulcerate, produc- 
ing open superficial sores. Now arise painful symptoms 
no longer of a temporary kind. Mucous, purulent, or 
bloody discharge flows from the ulcer. Neuralgic pain ?)i 
2 b 



186 GEEAT VALUE OF THE SITZ-BATH 

the back, abdomen, hips, and thighs harasses the patient. 
To this is added a sense of fulness, and bearing-down 
weight in the region of the uterus. Sympathetic feverish- 
ness deprives her of appetite, gives her occasional head- 
ache, heats and dries her skin, renders her nights wearisome 
and restless, and vitiates and obstructs all her secretions. 
After this she is probably confined to the recumbent posi- 
tion, and is in effect debarred half the pleasures of exist- 
ence. In this miserable state the hapless lady may con- 
tinue for many years. The complaint does not kill her. 
It were better perhaps if it did, for the blessings of life 
are sapped. 

These latter remarks apply to the time before hydropa- 
thy was introduced, for the author believes, that the condi- 
tion described above is totally incurable by medicinal means, 
and he knows it is very frequently curable by hydropathic. 
He has at this moment a lady in his house, who has 
suffered for six or seven years precisely in this manner — 
who has endured the most prolonged, and agonizing pains 
— who has undergone all sorts of medicinal treatment, with 
results generally detrimental, sometimes indifferent, never 
successful — who has been at other hydropathic establish- 
ments, always with some, however little benefit — and who 
is now, after having been a confirmed invalid for so many 
years, so remarkably improved, that there is no reason to 
doubt but that she will be perfectly restored. Perfectly 
restored! And that too after all the joys of existence had 
been turned into sorrows, and life had become an unwel- 
come partner. 

But let us suppose that the affection under discussion has 
not arrived at this extreme point. The womb is engorged 
with blood, but there is no ulceration. Still there has pro- 
bably been produced so much derangement of the uterus, as 
to unfit it for the discharge of its function of menstruation 
for the following one or more periods. And as the system 
would suffer, unless there were some supplementary action 



. SUPPRESSED MENSTRUATION AND LEUCORRH(EA. 187 

instituted, nature calls upon another texture to undertake 
the office, which the uterus is r^o longer capable of per- 
forming. And in this way is established a leucorrhcea. 
But the part, whence this discharge issues, is not able to 
eliminate a red secretion, like the true menstrual fluid, but 
it can produce a white one, possessing very analagous 
qualities. This therefore is achieved, and now, instead of 
the normal periodic red menstruation, there is substituted 
an abnormal, persistent, but irregular, white menstruation. 
And when this state of tilings has once existed, all the 
medical faculty know how difficult it is to be radically 
cured. For, although after a certain time the uterus may 
recover itself, and become once more fit to accomplish its 
natural office, yet the parts upon which has devolved in the 
interim the uterine duty, manifested by the leucorrhcea, 
have become so accustomed to their unnatural state, that 
there is extreme difficulty in correcting it, and restoring to 
the uterus its legitimate secretion. Now it is here, in 
cases like these, where the judicious employment of the 
sitz-bath is invaluable. If the patient take a cold one of 
short duration, the water causes to contract all the blood- 
vessels that come within its influence. By this contraction 
are their contents in a certain measure squeezed from their 
interior. In other words the blood is driven from the 
parts immersed. And by a permanently astringing or 
tonic effect, exerted by the water upon the contracted 
coats of the vessels, it is also maintained at a distance. 
But the leucorrhceal discharge is formed both from and of 
the blood. Wherefore the greater the expulsion of blood 
from the parts, the more is the white secretion checked ; 
which is the object desired. It follows from these premi- 
ses, that the cold sitz should be employed only during the 
intervals between the periodic attempts at regular menstru- 
ation. Such periods are generally marked by some such 
symptoms, as pain in the back, or hips, or abdomen, bear- 
ing-down pains, headache, &c. During the prevalence of 



188 THE SITZ-BATH IN VICARIOUS MENSTRUATION. 

these symptoms the cold sitz must give place to the hot one. 
In which case instead of an expulsion of blood from the 
parts immersed the contrary effect will be produced, 
namely, a derivative one; that is, the blood is drawn from 
all quarters towards the parts immersed. This therefore, 
aided by the natural efforts of the womb itself, is the very 
thing calculated to restore to that organ its proper func- 
tion. Hence it appears, that a judicious interchange of the 
cold and hot sitz-bath in this land of disturbance of the 
uterine system, is likely to be followed by the most benefi- 
cial results, suppressing the leucorrhoeal discharge, or white 
and spurious menstruation, as it may be called, and re- 
instating the red, natural, and real one. Let the reader 
carefully bear in mind however the different circumstances 
to which particular attention must be paid. Firstly, the 
cold bath must be of short duration, and frequently re- 
peated. Secondly, it must be discontinued, and the hot 
one substituted, as soon as the proper menstrual period is 
at hand, to be again repeated after that period has passed 
away. Thirdly, the hot bath must be hot, not tepid, and 
it should remain hot all the time the patient is immersed 
therein. Without strict attention to these points a failure 
will be the inevitable result. 

In vicarious menstruation, that is, where in the place of 
the normal uterine discharge there is substituted a periodic 
escape of blood from some other part, as the nose, stomach, 
lungs, rectum, &c, this alternation of the hot and cold 
sitz is equally useful. In these cases the cold bath acts as 
a tonic to the uterus, imparting to that organ such strength 
as shall enable it to perform its functions when the proper 
period shall arrive, while the hot one is a derivative, draw- 
ing blood towards it, out of which it may elaborate the 
menstrual secretion, when the correct period has arrived. 

It will perhaps not be an unapt method of concluding 
this treatise by drawing up a brief general 



GENERAL REVIEW OF THE PRECEDING FACTS. 189 

SUMMARY. 

The wet-sheet lowers the pulse, diminishes the heat of 
surface, and relieves pain. It is therefore in medical lan- 
guage an antiphlogistic or febrifuge, and an anodyne. It 
corresponds to the lancet or leech, antimony, calomel, and 
opium,and other febrifuge and anodyne mixtures. It differs 
from the four first-named in not being followed by general 
debility, cachexia, &c. 

The douche sometimes elevates the pulse, but always ac- 
celerates the function of respiration, thereby imparting an 
enlivening influence to all the vital phenomena. It is 
therefore a diffusible stimulant. Its physiological effects 
may be compared to those of ammonia, or those produced 
by the exhibition of small, that is, stimulating doses of 
opium. Of course its beneficial action is much more per- 
manent than that of either medicine, and it is not liable to 
be followed by the deleterious consequences that the latter, 
even in the minutest quantity, does sometimes engender. 

The blanket-packing quickens the pulse and produces 
perspiration. It is therefore a stimulant and sudorific. 
But both in its mode of stimulation, and in its sudorific 
properties it is peculiar, and stands alone. There is 
nothing in the pharmacopseia, to which it can be compared. 
The profession would do well to adopt this process into 
their therapeutic catalogue. In certain chronic diseases of 
the chylopoietic viscera, more especially of the liver, when 
it is not contra-indicated by any active irritation, they 
would find it a valuable addition to their remedial agents. 

The shallow-bath generally quickens both circulation and 
respiration, always the latter. Like the douche therefore, 
it is a diffusible stimulant, but of less power. 

The sitz-bath lowers the pulse, but leaves the respiration 
unimpeded. Moreover, with some exceptions it reddens 
the skin of the parts immersed, of course provided the 
process endure long enough. It is therefore a sedative, a 



190 COLD WATER AERATES AND PURIFIES THE BLOOD. 

purifier of the blood, and a derivative or counter-irritant. 
In the first of these properties it perhaps more nearly re- 
sembles foxglove than any other drug. In its third effect, 
that of counter-irritation, it may be compared with blisters 
of different kinds and liniments. But with regard to its 
power of purifying the blood, of course no medicine can 
compete with it. 

All the purely hydropathic appliances agree in one im- 
portant peculiarity. The wet-sheet, the douche, the sitz, 
the shallow-bath, the other simple baths, as the can-douche 
and dripping sheet, nay, even the blanket-packing, all dis- 
turb the previous balance or equilibrium of the heart and 
lungs in favour of the latter. That is to say, the respira- 
tion is augmented beyond the proportional speed of the 
pulse. If the pulse be diminished in rapidity, the respira- 
tory process remains unaffected. If the pulse be station- 
ary, the respiratory movements are increased. If the pulse 
be accelerated, the respiration is still more accelerated. In 
the same ratio that this function is expedited, are the 
aeration and purification of the blood more complete ; and, 
as this fluid of fluids becomes chastened in quality, so do all 
the complex processes of the economy become more per- 
fect in their action ; and as these functions recover their 
normal activity, old-standing and deep-rooted disease melts 
away, and long-absent health regains her ascendancy. 



WILLIAM IRWIN, PRINTER, OLDHAM-STREET, MANCHESTER, 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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